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THE 


COMMUNICANT'S   MANUAL: 


SERIES  OF  MEDITATIONS 


DESIGNED    TO 


ASSIST    COMMUNICANTS    IN    MAKING    PREPARATION 


THE    HOLY    SUPPER. 


y  BY 

J.  J.  JANE  WAY,  D.  D. 


PHILA  DELPHI  A.- 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD    OF   PUBLICATION. 
1848. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1848, 
by  A.  W.  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of 
the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


CONTENTS. 


MEDITATION  I. 
Precious  Ordinance IS 

MEDITATION  II. 
The  cross  of  Christ. 20 

MEDITATION  III. 
The  apostasy  of  the  human  race 27 

MEDITATION  IV. 
The  superiority  of  the  Christian  dispensation .34 

MEDITATION  V. 
The  glory  of  God  in  the  cross 41 

MEDITATION  VI. 
The  person  of  our  Redeemer 48 

MEDITATION  VII. 

His  infinite  condescension. 51 

MEDITATION  VIII. 
His  profound  humiliation 64 

MEDITATION  IX. 
His  holy  life 71 

MEDITATION  X. 
His  sufferings  and  death 78 

MEDITATION  XI. 
The  evil  of  sin. . .    85 

MEDITATION  XII. 
The  resurrection  of  Christ 9S 

MEDITATION  XIII. 

His  ascension  into  Heaven  and  session  at  God's 

right  hand S9 

MEDITATION  XIV. 
His  intercession 106 


8  CONTENTS. 

MEDITATION  XV. 
His  coming  to  judgment 112 

MEDITATION  XVI. 
The  love  of  Christ 119 

MEDITATION  XVII. 
Self-examination 126 

MEDITATION  XVIII. 
Penitent  recollection  of  sins — Self-dedication 132 

MEDITATION  XIX. 
The  Sabbath  morning 140 

MEDITATION  XX. 
At  the  table ...146 

MEDITATION  XXI. 

After  returning  from  the  communion 154 

MEDITATION  XXII. 
Thanksgiving 156 

MEDITATION  XXIII. 
Obligations  assumed 163 

MEDITATION  XXIV. 
The  Christian's  warfare 170 

MEDITATION  XXV. 
Watchfulness  and  dependence  on  divine  assistance. .  .179 

MEDITATION  XXVI. 
The  Christian's  reward 187 

MEDITATION  XXVII. 

The  Christian's  joy.    195 

MEDITATION  XXVIII. 
Dependence  on  the  Holy  Spirit 204 

MEDITATION  XXIX. 
Growth  in  Grace ..211 


PREFACE 


The  Author,  in  preparing  for  the  Holy  Supper,  has,  for 
many  years,  been  in  the  habit  of  conducting  his  private 
unwritten  meditations,  in  a  manner  somewhat  like  the 
form  adopted  in  these  meditations.  Recently  it  occur- 
red, that  a  series  of  written  Meditations  on  appropriate 
topics,  might  assist  communicants  who  are  unskilful 
in  the  art  of  private  meditation.  Relying-,  therefore, 
upon  Divine  aid,  and  humbly  hoping  for  the  blessing  of 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  on  his  attempt  to  edify 
some  of  the  members,  he  undertook  the  work. 

He  has  written  nineteen  meditations,  to  be  used 
before  the  communion ;  one,  at  the  Holy  Supper ;  and 
nine,  after  the  communion.  To  all,  except  one,  he 
has  appended  short  prayers. 

To  read  devoutly  a  Meditation  will  require  from 
eight  to  ten  minutes,  and  a  prayer,  from  two  to  three. 

If  notice  for  the  Supper  be  given  two  weeks  before 
the  admmistration,  there  will  be  ample  time  for  reading 


10  PREFACE. 

over  these  Meditations  and  Prayers.  If  only  a  week- 
should  intervene,  they  mig-ht  be  read  by  allowing  more 
time  for  devotional  exercises,  morning  and  evening- ; 
or  a  selection  may  be  made,  so  as  to  suit  the  time. 

After  using  this  little  book  for  a  while,  many  may 
find  themselves  enabled  to  intersperse  new  thoughts, 
in  reading  over  these  Meditations;  just  as  a  person 
may  add  reflections,  when  perusing  a  chapter,  or  part 
of  a  chapter  in  the  Holy  Bible. 

It  is  not  the  wish  of  the  Author,  that  any  should 
confine  themselves  to  the  prayers  appended  to  these 
Meditations.  He  has  written  them  to  direct  the  read- 
er's attention  to  those  parts  of  the  Meditations,  which 
fiirnish  matter  for  praise,  thanksgiving,  and  prayer; 
and  which  he  may  incorporate  with  any  address  he 
feels  disposed  to  ofter  unto  God,  after  devoutly  reading 
them. 

Between  such  a  use  of  these  prayers  four  times  a 
year,  and  confinement  to  set  forms  of  prayers  every 
Saiabath,  and  every  day  of  the  year,  there  is  no  analogy. 

The  writer  invites  the  attention  of  his  brethren  in 
the  ministry  to  the  twentieth  Meditation,  designed  to 
direct  the  exercises  of  communicants,  when  seated  at 
the  Lord's  table.  It  will,  he  presumes,  be  admitted, 
that  communicants  have  a  very  important  duty  there 
to  perform,  and  that  their  minds  ought  to  be  occupied 


PREFACE.  11 

^ith  thoughts  like  those  suggested  in  that  Meditation. 
This  being  granted,  will  it  not  follow,  that  they  should 
be  allowed  time  sufficient  for  each  one  to  follow  the 
train  of  thought  to  which  he  feels  inclined;  to  make 
the  confession  of  sins,  to  present  the  petitions,  and  to 
offer  the  thanksgivings,  suited  to  his  own  case  ]  'But 
if,  at  the  administration  of  the  elements,  the  minister 
is  constantly  speakmg,  how  can  communicants  perform 
that  peculiar  duty,  which  is  to  be  transacted  between 
his  own  soul  and  his  Redeemer,  as  he  ought  1  Must 
not  such  incessant  speaking  sadly  break  in  upon  his 
secret  devotions  1 

When  the  writer  is  seated  at  the  holy  table,  and 
the  elements  are  bemg  distributed,  he  feels  a  wish  to 
be  left  alone  to  his  own  meditations ;  and  he  endea- 
vours to  shut  his  ears  to  any  address  by  the  minister ; 
because  it  appears  to  him  then  so  unseasonable.  No 
doubt  many  communicants  feel  as  he  does ;  but  they 
may  not  be  able  to  abstract  their  minds  from  the  ad- 
dress of  the  speaker. 

But,  it  will  be  said,  Do  not  communicants  need 
thoughts  to  be  thrown  out  to  assist  their  meditations  ? 
Granted ;  they  need  assistance :  and  let  it  be  proffered 
to  them  at  the  proper  time.  Cannot  a  minister  say 
all  that  needs  be  said,  before  he  distributes  the  bread  1 
And  if  afterwards  he  wish  to  utter  a  striking  thought, 


12  PREFACE. 

or  to  give  an  appropriate  direction,  can  he  not  do  it  in 
few  words,  when  he  distributes  the  cup  I 

That  communicants  ought  to  be  left  to  their  own 
meditations  and  exercises,  while  the  elements  are 
being  distributed,  the  Author  has,  for  many  years,  been 
so  rally  convinced,  that  to  address  them,  at  such  a  time 
with  continued  remarks,  he  would  feel  to  be  an  un- 
v/arrantable  intrusion  on  their  private  devotions. 

With  all  due  respect  to  the  judgment  of  his  breth- 
ren in  the  ministry,  he  submits  these  few  thoughts  on 
this  subject  to  their  serious  consideration.  He  will 
only  add,  that  he  thinks  the  general  adoption  of  such 
a  plan  would  render  communion  seasons  more  profit- 
able to  communicants. 

New  Brunswick,  January,  1848. 


SACRAMENTAL  MEDITATIONS 


MEDITATION  I. 

PRECIOUS     ORDINANCE. 

Again  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  sup- 
per has  been  announced;  and  on  the  ap- 
pointed day,  it  will  be  my  privilege  and  that 
of  other  disciples  of  our  Lord,  to  take  our 
seats  at  his  table.  Invaluable  ordinance! 
How  powerful  its  influence  in  sustaining 
Christian  character  and  deportment !  The 
an-nouncement  of  it  has  often  found  professing 
Christians  slumbering  and  declining,  if  not 
backsliding.  Aroused  by  it,  in  attending  to 
the  duties  and  meditations  which  preparation 
for  it  demands,  they  have  discovered  their 
slumbering  and  declension;  and  been  by 
grace  enabled  to  awake  from  sleep,  and  to 
recover  what  they  had  lost. 

How  precious  this  ordinance  on  various 
accounts!  The  consideration  of  its  origin 
should  endear  it  to  our  hearts.  It  did  not 
take  its  rise  from  human  wisdom.  It  is  no 
appointment  of  man.  No  man,  whatever 
2 


14  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

may  be  his  station  and  authority  has  a  right  to 
ordain  a  rehgious  rite;  nor  lias  any  assembly 
of  men,  whether  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  such  a 
right.  The  exercise  of  such  a  right  would  be 
an  invasion  of  the  authority  of  the  Lord  Jesns 
Christ,  the  great  Head  of  the  Church.  He 
alone  has  a  right  to  prescribe  her  laws,  and  to 
ordain  her  rites.  Were  the  supper  a  human 
appointment,  it  would  be  mere  ivill  worship; 
and,  in  partaking  of  it,  we  might  justly 
apprehend  his  rebuke,  instead  of  expecting 
his  approbation. 

The  great  Lawgiver  and  Head  of  the  Church 
instituted  this  ordinance.  He  made  the 
appointment  in  circumstances  of  peculiar  en- 
dearment. The  same  night  in  which  he 
was  betrayed,  when  he  had  a  full  view  of  his 
approaching  sufferings,  then  "his  love  appoint- 
ed this  supper,  designed  for  the  edification 
and  comfort  of  his  disciples,  till  the  end  of 
time.  In  such  circumstances  he  took  bread 
and  wine,  as  memorials  of  his  broken  body 
and  shed  blood;  and  commanded  them  to  be 
used  as  such,  in  remembrance  of  his  suffer- 
ings for  us,  and  his  love  to  us.  Three  Evan- 
gehsts,  and  the  apostle  Paul,  have  certified 
us  of  these  facts.  Matt.  xxvi.  26-30;  Mark 
xiv.  22-25;  Luke  xxii.  19,  20;  1  Cor.  xi. 
23-33. 

This  ordinance  was  first  observed  by  the 
apostles  of  our  Lord  in  a  large  upper  room 
in  Jerusalem;  Mark  xiv.  15;  then  by  the 
Clmrch  in  that  city,  after  the  Redeemer's  re- 
surrection; and  subsequently  by  the  Church, 


.        PRECIOUS    ORDINANCE.  15 

wherever  she  was  fonnd  in  various  parts  oi 
the  world,  in  all  succeeding  ages;  and  now  it 
is  observed  by  the  Church  in  these  ends  of  the 
earth;  audit  will  be  observed  by  the  Church 
till  the  end  of  the  world.  Let  me  then 
remember  this  great  fact,  of  which  not  a 
doubt  should  exist,  that  this  supper  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  authority  of  Jesus  Christ;  and 
let  me  partake  of  it  in  obedience  to  his 
authority,  and  thus  render  it  an  act  of  accept- 
able worship. 

How  precious  this  ordinance,  when  we 
consider  who  are  the  invited  guests,  and  by 
whose  presence  the  supper  will  be  graced  and 
honoured !  Whom  shall  I  see  at  the  table  of 
my  Lord  ?  The  rich,  the  great,  the  nobles, 
the  princes,  and  kings  of  the  earth?  Oh !  no. 
Seldom  have  such  been  found  to  obey  the 
Saviour's  dying  command.  They  prefer  sit- 
ting at  tables,  which  wealth  and  pomp  delight 
to  provide,  spread  with  costly  viands,  that 
gratify  and  pamper  their  bodily  appetites; 
and  slight  a  feast  designed  to  meet  the  wants 
of  an  immortal  mind,  and  nourish  its  spiritual 
life,  and  prepare  it  for  heavenly  happiness. 
There  shall  I  meet  the  poor,  the  unlearned, 
the  unknown.  Yet  let  me  lift  the  veil  that 
conceals  them,  and  look  at  them  with  the  eye 
of  faith;  and  whom  do  I  see  ?  How  changed ! 
They  are  the  disciples  of  Christ,  the  ransomed 
of  the  Lord,  the  saints  of  God,  his  children, 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Almighty,  the 
heirs  of  heaven,  the  expectants  of  crowns  and 
kingdoms  there.      What  a  privilege!    what 


16  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

an  honour  to  sit  with  them  at  the  same  table 
of  our  common  Lord! 

Nor  is  the  Lord  absent.  He  is  indeed  in 
heaven.  His  glorified  body  is  there,  far  re- 
moved from  mortal  sight.  But,  in  his  divine 
nature,  Jesus  is  everywhere;  and  he  will  not 
fail  to  meet,  with  his  gracious  presence,  his 
disciples,  when,  in  obedience  to  his  dying 
command,  they  gather  around  his  table,  to 
feed  upon  the-  spiritual  repast  his  love  has 
prepared  for  them.  Compared  with  such  a 
feast,  partaken  of  by  such  guests,  and  graced 
with  the  presence  and  enriched  with  the 
smiles  of  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords, 
what  is  the  most  sumptuous  entertainment 
that  was  ever  prepared  by  earthly  riches,  for 
the  display  of  human  grandeur  and  magnifi- 
cence ! 

How  precious  too  this  supper,  when  its 
spiritual  nature  is  considered!  Heresy  will 
have  it,  that  the  words  of  the  institution  are 
to  be  understood  literally;  that,  in  the  supper, 
we  eat  the  real  body  and  drink  the  real 
blood  of  our  Redeemer;  and  that  the  elements 
are  really  changed  into  his  body  and  blood. 
What  absurdity!  When  the  Saviour  said 
^' I  am  the  door;"  "I  am  the  vine;"  are  we  to 
understand  him  as  meaning,  that  he  was 
really  a  door,  and  really  a  vine?  Heresy 
itself  is  compelled  to  assign  a  figurative  mean- 
ing to  some  words  in  the  institution.  She 
does  not  contend  we  are  to  drink  the  cujj  and 
not  the  wine,  when  the  cup  is  given;  nor 
that  the  cup  is  really  the  New  Testament, 


PRECIOUS    ORDINANCE.  17 

and  not  a  sign  and  seal  of  it.  "  It  is  the  spirit, 
said  Jesus,  tliat  quickenetli;  the  flesh  profit- 
eth  nothing :  the  words  that  I  speak  nnto  3^011, 
they  are  spirit,  and  they  are  hfe."  John  vi. 
53-56,  63. 

The  feast  is  not  designed  to  satisfy  our 
bodily  appetites.  It  is  a  spiritual  feast,  in- 
tended to  nourish  our  spiritual  life,  and 
strengthen  all  the  faculties  and  graces  of  that 
life.  A  small  portion  of  bread  and  wine, 
used  as  symbols  of  the  broken  body  and  shed 
blood  of  our  Lord,  is  given  to  us,  that  we  may 
feed  on  his  body  and  blood,  not  carnaUy  and 
corporally,  but  spiritually  a,nd  mystically, 
by  faith.  We  are  to  receive,  and  eat,  and 
drink  the  elements,  to  signify  that,  as  we  live 
by  eating  and  drinking  appropriate  food,  so 
we  live  spiritually  by  feeding  by  faith  on  the 
spiritual  food,  which  he  furnishes  for  the  life 
of  our  souls;  or,  in  other  words,  that  we  are 
willing  to  accept  that  spiritual  and  eternal  life 
he  has  purchased  by  his  sufferings  and  death, 
and  to  depend  on  him  for  its  preservation, 
increase  here,  and  final  expansion  in  the 
world  to  come.  Such  is  the  nature  of  this 
blessed  feast. 

The  supper  of  our  Lord  is  precious  also  on 
account  of  the  covenant  engagements  it  seals. 
"This  cup  is  the  New  Testament  in  my 
blood,  which  is  shed  for  you.'^  Luke  xxii. 
20.  The  covenant  of  grace  was  ratified  and 
sealed  by  the  blood  of  the  great  Mediator, 
and  all  its  blessings  were  made  sure  to  all  for 
whom  he  undertook  to  satisfy  divine  justice  5 


IS  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

and  the  cup  or  wine,  the  symbol  of  this  blood, 
seals  the  New  Testament  or  covenant  in  this 
ordinance.  Here  I  am  invited  to  renew  my 
covenant  engagements  with  God.  Here  I 
am  allowed  the  great  privilege  of  taking  God 
the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
be  my  covenant  God;  the  Father  to  be  my 
reconciled  father  and  covenanted  portion, 
through  Christ;  the  Son  to  be  my  Saviour, 
friend,  master  and  Lord;  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  be  my  guide  and  teacher,  my  sanc- 
tifier  and  comforter;  and  to  give  myself  up 
to  God  as  his  servant  and  child;  to  Christ  as 
his  disciple  and  follower,  and  to  the  Holy 
Ghost  as  his  temple,  for  ever.  The  elements 
are  seals  to  this  covenant,  for  both  parties.  I 
seal  my  engagements  to  God;  and  God  seals 
his  promises  to  me. 

Amazing  transaction!     What  astonishing, 
condescension  and  grace  on  the  part  of  God ! 
and  how  should  I  admire  and  adore  him  for 
such  condescension  and  grace ! 

Is  this  the  feast  I  am  invited  to  partake  of? 
so  heavenly  in  its  origin,  and  instituted  in 
circumstances  so  interesting;  its  guests  so 
noble  and  dignified;  its  nature  so  spiritual, 
so  nourishing  to  my  spiritual  life,  and  so 
strengthening  to  every  grace  and  virtue;  and 
the  transactions  to  which  it  invites  so  won- 
derful and  sublime?  How  joyfully  ought  I 
then  to  embrace  every  opportunity  of  sup- 
ping and  communing  with  my  blessed  Lord ! 

For  such  an  ordinance  doubtless  a  corres- 
ponding preparation  is  required.     By  solemn 


PRAYER.  19 

meditation  on  suitable  topics,  by  self-ex- 
amination, by  renewing  my  covenant  en- 
gagements, by  the  exercise  of  repentance 
and  faith,  and  by  earnest  and  importunate 
prayer,  let  me  then,  endeavour  to  prepare 
for  a  believing  and  profitable  communion 
season. 

PRAYER. 

Blessed  Redeemer,  I  praise  thee  for  the 
institution  of  thy  holy  supper.  I  thank  thee 
that,  in  circumstances  so  distressing,  when 
thou  hadst  before  thee  all  that  thou  wast 
about  to  suffer  in  the  garden,  in  the  palace  of 
the  high  priest,  in  the  hall  of  Pilate,  and  on 
tlie  cross,  thou  didst  not  forget  thy  disciples. 
Then  thou  didst  provide  this  memorial  of  thy 
love,  this  feast  for  the  welfare,  comfort,  and 
edification  of  thy  Church,  to  the  end  of  time. 

May  I  highly  prize  this  ordinance,  and 
rightly  appreciate  the  high  honour  conferred 
on  me,  and  the  precious  privilege  granted  to 
me,  in  being  permitted  to  commune  with  thy 
people,  and  with  thee,  my  Lord  and  Master! 
May  my  heart  rejoice  at  every  announce- 
ment that  this  precious  supper  will  be  again 
administered  in  the  church  of  which  I  am  a 
member ! 

Surely  it  becomes  me  to  make  a  suitable 
preparation  for  taking  my  seat  at  a  table 
covered  with  so  rich  a  feast.  Grant,  0  Lord, 
that  I  may  come,  having  on  the  wedding  gar- 
ment, that  I  may  meet  with  thy  approbation, 
my  King  and  my  God.     Licline  my  heart  to 


20  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

meditate  seriously  and  solemnly  on  all  those 
interesting  topics  that  will  claim  my  atten- 
tion; to  examine  myself;  to  recollect  my  sins 
and  renew  my  repentance;  to  dedicate  my- 
self again  to  thee,  my  Saviour;  to  exercise 
my  faith  in  thy  atoning  blood  and  justifying 
righteousness;  and  to  p^our  forth  my  sup- 
plications for  pardoning  mercy  and  sanctify- 
ing grace.  May  it  be  a  sweet  and  refreshing 
season  to  my  soul,  and  to  the  souls  of  all  com- 
municants! JNIay  we  meet  with  the  Lord 
our  Redeemer  at  his  table,  and  enjoy  com- 
munion with  him,  and  with  one  another! 
Grant  my  prayer,  for  thy  name's  sake.  Amen. 


MEDITATION  II. 


THE      CROSS     OF     CHRIST. 

How  wonderful  the  object  presented  by  the 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper  for  the  con- 
templation of  the  invited  guests!  Nothing 
less  than  the  Son  of  God  nailed  to  the  ac- 
cursed cross,  dying  in  shame  and  ignominy, 
bearing  our  sins  and  the  wrath  of  the  Al- 
mighty, to  satisfy  the  demands  of  his  justice, 
and  thus  make  full  expiation  for  them. 
"Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world  ! " 

In  vain  shall  we  search  elsewhere  for  such 


THE    CROSS    OF    CHRIST.  21 

a  spectacle.  Its  like  is  not  to  be  found  in 
any  other  part  of  the  universe.  This  earth, 
cursed  as  it  is  by  sin,  has  alone,  of  all  the 
worlds  in  the  boundless  dominions  of  the, 
Almighty,  been  blessed  and  honoured  with 
the  amazing  spectacle. 

Taught  by  the  *first  great  promise  an- 
nounced to  our  first  parents,  immediately 
after  their  fall,  concerning  the  Seed  of  the 
woman,  who  was  to  bruise  the  serpent's 
head,  our  apostate  race  began,  from  the  be- 
ginning, to  expect  a  deliverer  from  the  ruin 
that  sin  had  brought  on  the  world.  With 
the  revolution  of  ages,  as  new  light  was 
imparted,  by  prophecy  and  promise,  to  the 
Church,  believers  were  sustained  in  their 
expectations,  and  were  enabled  to  look, 
through  the  types  and  ceremonies,  with 
greater  clearness,  for  the  coming  of  the 
Messiah.  Thus  were  the  eyes  of  the  wliole 
Church,  and  their  longing  expectations,  di- 
rected to  Him,  till  his  advent  in  the  flesh. 

And  since  his  appearance  in  the  world,  and 
the  accomplishment  of  his  mighty  work  on 
earth,  the  eyes  of  the  Church  have  been 
turned  to  his  cross,  and  will  be  turned  to  it, 
to  the  end  of  time,  as  the  great  object  of 
their  faith,  and  the  source  of  their  redemp- 
tion. To  it  they  look,  and  will  look,  for 
peace,  and  comfort,  and  hope,  and  joy,  and 
eternal  life. 

From  the  first  intimation  of  God's  merciful 
designs  towards  our  fallen  world,  angels, 
those  holy  and  exalted  creatures  that  inhabit 


22  SACRAMENTAL  3IEDITATI0NS. 

heaven,  and  stand  around  the  throne  of  the 
IVIost  High,  have  felt  a  deep  mterest  in  the 
mystery  of  redemption.  With  dehglit  they 
have,  in  all  ages,  ministered  unto  the  heirs  of 
salvation.  How  joyfully  they  announced  the 
Saviour's  birth  to  the  shepherds  on  the  fields 
of  Bethlehem,  and  sang  the  song,  "  Glory  to 
God  in  the  highest;  and  on  earth,  peace, 
good-will  toward  men."  When  Jesus  had 
in  the  wilderness  repelled  the  tempter,  the 
Evangelist  says,  ''Behold,  angels  came  and 
ministered  unto  him;'^  and  another  Evan- 
gelist says,  after  narrating  his  agony  in  the 
garden,  "  And  there  appeared  an  angel  from 
heaven,  strengthening  him."  At  his  resur- 
rection, the  angel  of  the  Lord  descended  from 
heaven,  and  rolling  back  from  the  sepulchre 
the  stone,  sat  upon  it,  with  a  countenance 
like  lightning,  and  raiment  white  as  snow, 
terrifying  the  Roman  guard,  so  that  they 
became  as  dead  men.  And  when  our  Lord 
ascended  to  heaven,  two  angels  assured  his 
wondermg  disciples,  that  he  would  hereafter 
come  again,  in  like  manner  as  they  saw  him 
go  into  heaven.  And  ever  since,  these  ex- 
alted spirits  have  employed  their  mighty 
intellects  in  studying  the  great  mystery  of 
redemption ;  for  Peter,  when  speaking  of  the 
salvation  of  Christ,  says,  "which  things  the 
angels  desire  to  look  into." 

Still  more  is  the  cross  of  Christ  to  be  mag- 
nified: for  the  eye  of  God  himself  has,  from 
the  ages  of  eternity,  rested  upon  it,  as  the 
development  of  that  great  mystery  of  his 


THE    CROSS    OF    CHRIST.  23 

will,  that  is  to  fill  this  world,  heaven  itself, 
and  all  other  worlds,  with  the  fullest  exhibi- 
tion of  his  glory.     The  cross  is  the  centre  of 
Jehovah's  moral  government.     Here  peace 
is  made  between  heaven  and  earth.     "For 
he  is  our  peace,  who  hath  made  both  one, 
and  hath  broken  down  the  middle  wall  of 
partition  between   us;    having  abolished  in 
his  flesh  the  enmity,  even  the  law  of  com- 
mandments contained  in  ordinances;  for  to 
make  in  himself  of  twain  one  new  man,  so 
making  peace;  and  that  he  might  reconcile 
both  unto  God  in  one  body  by  the  cross, 
having  slain  the  enmity  thereby:  and  came 
and  preached  to  you  which  were  afar  off,  and 
to  them  that  were  nigh.     For  through  him 
we  both  have  access  by  one  Spirit  unto  the 
Father.''     And  "  in  the  dispensation  of  the 
fulness  of  time  God  will  gather  in  one  all 
things  in  Christ,  both  which  are  in  heaven, 
and  which  are  on  earth,  even  in  him;   of 
whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth 
is  named."     Ephes.  ii.  14-18;  i.  10;  in.  15. 
From  the  cross  of  Christ  an  influence  has 
gone  forth,  that  has  been  felt  by  the  affairs  of 
mankind,  both  before  and  since  his  coming 
into  the  world.     In  reference  to  it  a  whole 
nation  was  selected  by  God,  as  his  chosen 
people,  and  a  place  prepared  for  them  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth.    They  were  guarded 
by  a  peculiar  and  miraculous  providence, 
and   instructed  by  a  long  hne   of  inspired 
teachers  and  prophets.     The  affairs  of  other 
nations  were  controlled  by  a  regard  to  the 


2  4  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

cross;  and  so  extensive  dominion  was  given 
to  the  Roman  empire,  that  the  way  might  be 
prepared  for  the  preaching  of  the  cross,  and 
the  estabhshment  of  the  Cliurch  in  the  Gentile 
world. 

Ever  since,  the  affairs  of  nations  have  felt 
the  influence  of  this  wonderful  transaction. 
They  have  prospered,  or  declined,  as  they 
regarded,  or  disregarded  the  gospel  of  Christ 
crucified.  And  hereafter  the  cross  will  be 
lifted  up  on  high:  and  to  it  will  all  nations 
flock  as  the  fountain  of  peace,  of  life,  of 
holiness,  of  happiness,  and  of  glory. 

And  the  cross  will  be  the  object  of  delight- 
ful contemplation  and  profound  study,  and 
the  subject  of  joyous  conversation,  to  re- 
deemed saints  and  to  holy  angels,  throughout 
the  endless  ages  of  eternity;  and  for  ever  will 
be  sung  in  heaven  by  the  ransomed  ones  the 
song,  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us  and  washed 
us  in  his  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings 
and  priests  unto  God  and  his  Father;  to  him 
be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen.'^ 

The  cross  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  centre, 
which  throws  its  light  on  the  whole  circle  of 
divine  truth.  Here,  then,  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour,  let  me  stand, 
and  look  around.  What  a  circle  of  rich  and 
invaluable  truths  meets  my  eyes!  I  see  all 
the  great  and  leading  facts  and  truths  of 
divine  revelation.  The  apostasy  of  our  race, 
— the  superiority  of  the  Christian  dispensa- 
tion— the  glory  of  God  shining  in  the  face  of 


PRAYER.  25 

Christ — the  divine  person  of  our  Redeemer 
— his  infinite  condescension  and  profound 
humiliation — his  holy  life,  and  painful  suf- 
ferings and  agonizing  death — his  triumphant 
resurrection  and  glorious  ascension  into 
heaven — his  session  at  God's  right  hand 
and  intercession  there — his  coming  again  to 
judge  the  world,  and  consummate  the  salva- 
tion of  his  people — the  all-sufficiency  of  his 
atonement  and  righteousness,  and  rich  and 
invaluable  benefits — his  free  and  boundless 
love — the  evil  of  sin — the  duty  of  self-ex- 
amination and  self-dedication — all  these  facts 
and  truths  are  connected  with,  and  illustrated 
by,  the  cross  of  Christ.  These  are  the  topics 
on  which  it  is  proper  for  Christians  to  medi- 
tate in  preparing  their  minds  and  hearts  for 
an  acceptable  and  profitable  approach  to  the 
Lord's  table. 

What  attractions  in  the  cross  of  my  Re- 
deemer !  Gaze,  my  soul,  at  it,  with  wonder 
and  delight.  Look  at  it  again  and  again. 
Never  lose  sight  of  it.  Behold  the  glory  of  it, 
that  thou  mayest  be  assimilated  into  its  hke- 
ness. 

PRAYER. 

Most  High  and  holy  God,  may  T  love  to 
contemplate  the  cross  of  thy  Son!  How 
amazing  the  spectacle!  In  infinite  mercy 
thou  wast  pleased  to  honour  our  fallen  world, 
by  making  it  the  seal  of  a  transaction  more 
wonderful,  than  any  to  be  found  in  any  other 
world  in  thy  vast   dominions.     Before   the 


26  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

eyes  of  our  rebellious  race,  thou  hast  lifted 
up  thy  well-beloved  Son,  agonizing  and  dying 
on  the  cross,  as  the  appointed  sacrifice  for  sin, 
that  they  might  look  to  it,  and  be  healed  of 
their  wounds,  and  live. 

Oh !  grant  that  my  eyes  may  ever  be  direct- 
ed to  this  wonderful  spectacle.  May  I  never 
forget  it,  but  gaze  at  it  with  increasing  delight. 
May  I  understand  the  great  design  for  which 
my  Lord  and  Saviour  was  covered  with 
ignominy,  and  died  in  pain  and  agony;  and 
thus,  by  faith,  see  a  glory  beaming  forth  from 
the  cross  of  insufferable  brightness.  May  I 
there  behold  the  most  illustrious  exhibition  of 
thy  glory,  and  the  great  salvation  provided 
for  our  rebellious  race.  May  I  see  how  the 
cross  is  connected  with,  and  throws  its  hght 
upon,  the  great  truths,  and  facts  recorded  in 
the  Bible.  May  I  contemplate  it  as  the 
grand  centre  of  all  thy  dispensations  towards 
the  children  of  men;  as  the  source  of  peace 
and  friendship,  of  holiness  and  happiness;  as 
uniting  all  holy  beings  in  heaven  and  on 
earth  into  one  glorious  society  under  Christ  as 
the  blessed  Head.  Beholding  the  glory  of 
the  cross,  may  I  be  changed  into  the  same 
image,  from  glory  to  glory,  even  by  the  Spirit 
of  our  God.  May  I  embrace  the  cross  by 
faith,  and  glory  in  nothing  but  the  cross;  and 
feel  it  crucifying  the  world  to  me,  and  lifting 
my  affections  above  all  its  allurements,  hon- 
ours and  pleasures ;  and  setting  them  on 
heavenly  objects,  where  my  Saviour  reigns 
in  ineffable  glory.  Hear  me,  0  Lord,  for 
Christ's  sake.    Amen. 


APOSTASY    OF    MAN.  27 


MEDITATION  III. 


THE    APOSTASY   OF    THE    HUMAN    RACE. 

When  we  look  at  the  cross,  and  behold  the 
Son  of  God  exphing  on  it,  we  are  naturally 
led  to  inquire  after  the  cause  of  that  wonder- 
ful event.  Why  did  He  suffer  and  die  ?  He 
was  perfectly  free  from  sin,  and  was  holy,  both 
in  heart  and  in  life.  He  loved  his  Father,  and 
always  did  his  will ;  and  he  was  beloved  of 
his  Father,  who  dehghted  in  him  as  his  only 
begotten  Son.  He  could  not  then  suff'er  for 
his  own  sins;  for  he  had  none.  Yet  he  suf- 
fered and  suffered  dreadfully.  Why?  There 
was  a  sufficient  cause ;  so  that  the  Father, 
while  he  loved  him  most  endearingly,  could, 
consistently  with  this  love  which  he  never 
ceased  to  feel  towards  him,  and  consistently 
with  his  justice,  afflict  and  bruise  him,  and 
put  him  to  grief  and  shame.  What  was  that 
cause?  The  apostle  Peter  answers  the  ques- 
tion, as  the  prophet  Isaiah  had  done  ages 
before.  When,  speaking  of  the  Redeemer, 
he  says:  "Who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in 
his  own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we,  being  dead 
to  sins,  should  live  unto  God,  1  Pet.  ii.  24 ; 
for  Christ  also  hath  suffered  for  sins,  the  just 
for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  to 
God.''  1  Pet.  iii.  IS. 
Here  is  the  reason  of  the  amazing  spectacle; 


28  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

exhibited  on  mount  Cah^ary  to  the  view  of 
the  world.  The  sins  of  mankind  were  tlie 
cause.  Had  not  man  apostatized  from  God 
and  brought  ruin  on  himself  and  all  his  pos- 
terity, that  amazing  spectacle  would  never 
have  been  seen  by  our  eyes.  It  was  to 
redeem  us  from  just,  deserved,  and  helpless 
ruin  and  misery,  that  the  Saviour  bled  and 
died  upon  the  cross. 

That  man  is  a  fallen,  sinful,  guilty  creature, 
we  find  the  most  abundant  and  convincing 
proof  Of  this  mournful  fact  I  am  surround- 
ed daily  with  incontestable  evidences.  I  look 
at  my  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  what  do 
I  see  ?  Unfallen,  sinless  creatures?  Not  one 
such  can  I  find.  All  exhibit  marks  of  depra- 
vity. What  forgetfulness  of  God  and  disre- 
gard of  his  favour,  and  violations  of  his  holy 
commandments,  do  I  see?  Some  indeed  are 
penitent  and  believing,  the  disciples  of  Christ, 
and  friends  of  God.  But  they  are  imperfect- 
ly sanctified,  and  most  ready  to  acknowledge 
the  native  depravity  of  their  hearts,  and  to 
lament  their  remaining  imperfections  and 
failures  in  duty.  The  rest,  with  few  excep- 
tions, are  moving  on  in  the  journey  of  life, 
unprepared  for  death,  and  thoughtless  of  a 
judgment  to  come. 

Wherever  I  go,  and  however  I  extend  my 
intercourse  with  my  fellow  creatures,  I  find 
the  same  evidence  of  human  depravity. 
What  mean  our  courts  of  justice,  our  prisons 
and  penitentiaries,  the  bolts  and  bars  by 
which  we  secure  our  houses?    What  mean 


APOSTASY    OF    MAN.  20 

diseases,  famine,  pestilence,  and  death  ?  Are 
Ihey  not  all  proofs  of  human  depravity? 

What  is  the  history  of  mankind,  but  a  his- 
tory of  wars,  bloodshed  and  crimes  ?  Where, 
in  any  part  of  its  universal  pages,  can  be 
found  the  history  of  any  portion  of  our  race, 
however  small,  who  have  lived  in  the  love  of 
God,  and  in  love  to  one  another,  free  from 
selfishness  and  covetousness,  envy  and  ambi- 
tion, lust  and  impurity — passions  that  every 
where  are  seen  working  out  crimes  and 
misery  in  this  fallen  world? 

If  I  open  the  Bible,  I  see,  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end  of  its  inspired  pages,  the 
plainest  proofs  of  the  fall  and  sinfulness  of 
man.  In  the  first  pages,  v/ritten  by  Moses,  I 
see,  that  Adam  was  created  upright,  in  the 
image  and  likeness  of  his  Creator.  He  was 
a  holy,  sinless,  and  happy  creature,  rejoicing 
in  the  favour  and  love  of  God.  But  soon, 
through  the  power  of  temptation,  which  he 
had  ample  power  to  resist,  he  fell  from  his 
holy  and  happy  condition,  by  transgressing 
the  commandment  of  his  God.  I  read  the 
sentence  pronounced  on  him  and  his  guilty 
companion,  by  their  offended  Maker  and 
righteous  Judge.  I  see  them  expelled  in 
anger  from  their  delightful  garden,  and  com- 
pelled to  labour  and  toil,  and  eat  their  bread 
in  the  sweat  of  their  brow.  Oh!  if  they  had 
not  sinned,  this  whole  earth  would  have  been 
one  extended  garden  of  delights,  in  which 
their  holy  posterity  would  have  been  seen 
living  under  the  smiles  of  their  God!  But, 
3 


30  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

alas!  children  are  born  to  the  guilty  pair; 
and  soon  it  becomes  manifest,  that  they  are 
like  their  common  parents,  depraved.  "  The 
Lord  had  respect  unto  Abel  and  to  his  offer- 
ing; but  unto  Cain  and  to  his  offering  he  had 
not  respect.''  Moved  by  envy  at  the  prefer- 
ence which  God  was  pleased  to  show  to  his 
younger  brother,  Cain  wickedly  slew  him. 

The  human  race  is  multiplied;  and,  with 
the  increase  of  men,  wickedness  is  so  multi- 
plied, that  Moses  writes,  "And  it  repented 
the  Lord  that  he  had  made  man  on  the  earth, 
and  it  grieved  him  at  his  heart."  God  deter- 
mines to  bring  a  flood  upon  an  ungodly 
world.  It  comes,  and  sweeps  away,  with 
the  besom  of  destruction,  the  whole  race  of 
sinners,  with  the  exception  of  Noah  and  his 
family.  What  an  awful  monument  of  human 
depravity  and  of  God's  righteous  indignation 
against  sin ! 

The  history  of  Noah's  descendants,  written 
with  the  pen  of  inspiration,  discovers  the 
same  stream  of  depravity  flowing  through 
every  generation.  That  peculiar  people,  se- 
parated by  God's  providence  from  the  rest  of 
mankind,  for  the  maintenance  of  his  worship 
and  rehgion  in  the  world,  forms  no  exception. 
Throughout  their  whole  history,  written  by 
inspired  men,  I  see  the  most  incontestable 
evidence  of  the  great  wickedness  of  the 
human  heart. 

I  read  the  epistle  of  the  apostle  Paul  to  the 
Romans,  and  what  increasing  evidence  is  pre- 
sented of  the  apostasy  and  ruin  of  our  race ! 


APOSTASY    OF    MAN.  31 

How  deplorable  the  description  he  gives  of 
the  o^reat  \vickedness  of  Gentile  nations, 
(chap,  i.)  and  how  clearly  he  proves,  from 
their  own  scriptures,  (chap,  ii.,  iii.)  that  the 
Jews  were  no  better!  How  conclusive  his 
argument,  that  no  flesh  can  be  justified  by 
the  works  of  the  law  before  God;  and  that 
all,  without  exception,  stand  in  perishing 
need  of  the  redemption  of  Jesus  Christ; 
v.diose  righteousness  by  faith  "is  unto  all 
and  upon  all  them  that  believe;  for  there  is 
no  difference:  for  all  have  sinned,  and  come 
short  of  the  glory  of  God."  Rom.  iii.  20-31. 
My  soul,  what  overwhelming  evidence  is 
here  of  the  apostasy,  depravity,  and  ruin  of 
the  race  of  creatures  to  which  I  belong!  And 
does  not  my  personal  history  prove  most  clear- 
ly that  I  am  involved  in  guilt,  sin,  and  misery? 
How  soon  evidence  of  my  depraved  heart 
appeared !  What  selfishness,  envy,  evil  de- 
sires, began  early  to  work  within  my  bosom, 
and  bring  forth  the  deeds  of  sin !  How  for- 
getful of  God,  and  his  service!  How  wan- 
dering have  been  my  thoughts  and  eyes  in 
his  sanctuary !  How  can  I  answer  for  the 
guilt  contracted,  in  times  past,  in  this  manner, 
while  professedly  hearing  his  blessed  word, 
and  presenting  worship  to  infinite  Majesty? 
How  long  I  lived  without  God,  and  without 
Christ  in  the  world!  How,  while  thus  es- 
tranged from  my  Creator,  and  following  the 
wayward  inclinations  of  my  heart,  did  my 
corruption  increase  in  strength !  and  had  not 
the  restraints  of  his  providence  and  grace 


32  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

held  me  back,  to  what  lengths  of  iniquity 
might  I  not  have  gone!  and  into  what  depths 
of  guilt  might  I  not  have  plunged!  Ah! 
how  mucli  I  needed  the  redemption  of  Jesus 
Christ!  What  eye  but  his  pitied  me  in  my 
fallen  condition;  and  what  arm  but  his 
could  deUver  me  from  the  terrible  pit  into 
which  I  had  fallen?  What  blood  hut  his 
could  wash  away  my  guilt,  and  what  but  his 
spotless  righteousness  could  cover  my  naked- 
ness, and  render  so  polluted  and  vile  a  sin- 
ner acceptable  in  the  sight  of  infinite  purity! 
And  although  I  am  permitted  to  entertain 
the  hope  of  having  been  renewed  and  sancti- 
fied by  divine  grace,  yet  I  feel  the  workings 
of  much  evil  in  my  heart,  and  a  proneness 
to  wander  from  my  God.  Blessed  Jesus,  I 
commit  myself  to  thee.  Cleanse  me  daily 
from  my  sins  by  thy  blood.  Keep  around 
me  the  glorious  robe  of  thy  righteousness. 
Guide  me  by  thy  Spirit.  Strengthen  me  by 
thy  grace.  Defend  me  by  thy  power.  Per- 
fect thy  work  in  me ;  and  bring  me  safely  to 
thy  heavenly  kingdom.     Amen. 

PRAYER. 

Most  Holy  God,  when  I  look  to  the  cross 
of  my  Redeemer,  I  see  the  most  convincing 
evidence  of  the  fall  of  our  race;  for  had  not 
man  been  guilty  and  depraved,  that  wonder- 
ful spectacle  on  Calvary  would  never  have 
been  witnessed  on  the  earth. 

All  my  friends  and  acquaintances  I  find  to 


PRAYER.  33 

be  corrupt  in  their  nature.  All  are  sinners. 
No.  where  can  I  find  an  individual  who  is 
free  from  sin.  The  whole  frame  of  civil 
society  attests  the  mournful  fact,  that  our 
race  is  apostate  from  God,  by  the  provision 
it  makes  for  restraining  the  hand  of  violence, 
and  punishing  crimes.  And  thou,  most 
righteous  Jehovah,  hast,  in  thy  providence, 
by  the  various  diseases  and  calamities 
brought  upon  the  world,  proclaimed  the 
m.ournful  truth,  that  thou  art  angry  with  us 
for  our  rebellious  conduct ;  and  in  thy  word 
thou  hast  taught  us  the  origin  of  our  de- 
pravity, and  exposed  to  view  the  polluted 
fountain  that  has  sent  forth  its  bitter  and 
poisonous  streams  over  all  the  earth,  and 
through  every  nation  under  heaven. 

And  when  I  look  into  my  own  heart,  I  see 
how  vile  it  is;  what  lusts  and  wicked  pas- 
sions have  defiled  it,  and  prompted  those  sin- 
ful acts  that  have  disgraced  my  life.  How 
much  it  becomes  me  to  lie  in  the  dust  at  thy 
feet,  0  my  offended  Creator,  and  to  implore 
thy  forgiving  mercy  !  Deeply  impress  my 
mind,  I  beseech  thee,  with  an  abiding  con- 
viction of  my  native  depravity  and  contracted 
guilt;  that  I  may  always  feel  my  need  of  the 
atoning  blood  and  cleansing  grace  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Forgive  my  sins,  and  sanctify  my 
nature,  for  his  sake.    Amen. 


34  SACRA3IENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 


MEDITATION  IV. 


THE     SUPERIORITY    OF     THE     CHRISTIAN 
DISPENSATION. 

Before  the  wonderful  scene  on  Calvary  had 
heen  exhibited  to  the  view  of  the  Church, 
and  while  Jesus  yet  lived  on  the  earth,  he 
said  to  his  apostles,  "Blessed  are  your  eyes, 
for  they  see :  and  your  ears,  for  they  hear. 
For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  many  pro- 
phets and  righteous  men  have  desired  to  see 
those  things  which  ye  see,  and  have  not  seen 
them;  and  to  hear  those  things  which  ye 
hear,  and  have  not  heard  them.^'  And  yet, 
at  that  time,  the  apostles  were  so  imperfectly 
enlightened  in  regard  to  the  great  facts  of  the 
gospel,  that,  w^hen  Jesus  spake  of  his  ap- 
proaching death  and  resurrection,  they  could 
not  understand  his  meaning.  See  Mat.  xvi. 
21-23.  Mark  ix.  31,  32.  Luke  xviii.  31-34. 
Subsequently  to  the  Saviour's  death,  when 
the  apostles  had  been  fully  enlightened  in  the 
mysteries  of  the  gospel,  Peter  writes  (1  Pet. 
i.  10-12):  "Of  which  salvation  the  prophets 
have  inquired  and  searched  diligently,  who 
prophesied  of  the  grace  that  should  come 
unto  you:  searching  what,  or  what  manner 
of  time,  the  Spirit  of  Christ  which  was  in 
them  did  signify,  when  it   testified  before 


CHRISTIAN    DISPENSATION.  35 

hand  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  glory- 
that  should  follow.  Unto  whom  it  was  re- 
vealed, that  not  unto  themselves,  but  unto  us 
they  did  minister  the  things,  which  are  now 
reported  unto  you  by  them  which  have 
preached  the  gospel  unto  you  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven;  which  things 
the  angels  desire  to  look  into.'' 

The  Jews  looked  through  types,  sacrifices 
and  ceremonies,  predictions  and  promises, 
and  saw  dimly  and  obscurely,  the  great 
events  that  have  been  set  before  us  in  the 
clearest  light.  And  even  the  prophets  who 
were  inspired  to  foretell  these  great  events, 
studied  their  own  prophecies,  that  they  might 
understand  the  import  of  the  words  they 
uttered,  under,  the  dictation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  but  they  were  unable  to  discover  it; 
and  were  instructed  by  the  Spirit,  that  the 
favour  sought  by  them  was  reserved  for  the 
Church,  when  their  predictions  should  be  ful- 
filled. The  Jews  had  the  types;  we  have 
the  realization  of  the  types:  they  had  the 
sacrifices;  we,  the  end,  the  great  sacrifice,  to 
which  they  pointed:  they  studied  the  pro- 
phecies; we  their  fulfilment.  The  Jcavs  had 
the  sign;  we  the  thing  signified:  they  enjoyed 
the  shadow;  Ave  the  substance.  On  them  the 
day  dawned  dimly;  on  us  it  sheds  its  meridian 
light. 

The  Jews  looked  for  a  Saviour,  who  was 
to  come,  whose  character,  offices  and  work 
they  imperfectly  understood.  We  look  to  a 
Saviour,  who  has  come,  assumed  his  several 


36  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

offices  and  accomplished  his  glorious  work. 
We  have  seen  him  come  into  the  world,  ap- 
pear in  our  natm'e,  live,  and  suffer,  and  die; 
and  then  rise  from  the  dead,  ascend  into 
heaven,  take  his  seat  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  and  reign  Head  over  all  things  for  his 
Church.  The  plan  of  salvation  has  been 
completely  unfolded  to  our  view;  the  way  to 
heaven  plainly  marked  out  before  our  eyes. 
We  are  told,  in  the  plainest  words,  what  we 
are  to  believe  and  do  to  be  saved;  that  for 
salvation  we  are  to  rely,  not  on  our  own 
works,  but  on  the  atonement  and  righteous- 
ness of  Christ. 

So  superior  is  the  Christian  dispensation  in 
light;  and  equally  distinguished  is  it  by  the 
measure  of  the  Spirit  granted  to  us  who  live 
imder  it.  "  This  spake  he  of  the  Spirit  which 
they  that  believe  on  him  should  receive :  for 
the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  given,  because 
that  Jesus  was  not  yet  glorified."  John  vii. 
39.  This  passage  is  not  to  be  understood,  as 
if  it  meant  that  the  Spirit  had  not  been  here- 
tofore imparted  to  the  children  of  men.  In 
every  age  he  has  wrought  by  his  common 
and  special  grace.  He  was  the  life  of  the 
Church  in  all  periods,  and  under  every  dis- 
pensation. This  awful  warning  is  early  found 
on  the  records  of  inspiration:  "My  Spirit 
shall  not  always  strive  with  man."  Gen.  vi.  3. 
It  only  means  that  a  much  larger  measure 
of  the  Spirit,  was  to  be  imparted  under  the 
approaching  econom}^,  that  was  to  bless  the 
Church,  after  the  exaltation  of  her  glorious 


CHRISTIAN    DISPENSATION.  37 

Head.  This  was  the  coronation  gift  of  her 
ascended  King,  most  munificently  bestowed 
on  the  apostles  and  other  disciples,  that 
qualified  them  for  the  work  of  founding  and 
edifying  the  Christian  Church;  a  gift  still 
bestowed  on  the  Church  since  that  blessed 
day,  in  every  successive  age,  in  a  greater  or 
less  degree. 

The  present  dispensation  is  characterized 
too  by  superior  privileges  bestowed  on  the 
Church.  The  ancient  Church  was  indeed, 
compared  with  other  nations,  near  unto  God, 
who  had  taken  her  into  covenant  relation, 
and  denominated  Israel  his  chosen;  yet  she 
was  kept  at  a  distance,  and  subject  to  carnal 
ordinances,  and  a  yoke  hard  to  bear.  But 
once  a  year  the  high  priest  alone  of  all  the 
chosen  tribes,  was  permitted  to  enter  into  the 
most  holy  place,  with  blood,  which  he  ofifered 
for  himself  and  for  the  errors  of  the  people;  a 
restriction  by  which  the  Holy  Ghost  signified 
"that  the  way  into  the  holiest  of  all  was  not 
yet  made  manifest,"  Heb.  ix.  7,  8.  But 
since  the  one  offering  of  our  great  High 
Priest,  "by  which  he  hath  perfected  for  ever 
them  that  are  sanctified,'^  (Heb.  x.  14,)  the 
way  into  the  holiest  is  made  manifest,  and 
every  believing  Christian  has  liberty  to  enter 
into  that  most  sacred  place,  not  once  in  a 
year,  but  daily;  and  by  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion converse  with  infinite  Majesty,  seated  on 
the  mercy  seat.  What  a  privilege !  Come, 
then,  my  soul,  relying  on  thy  great  High 
Priest,  "  boldly  unto  the  throne  of  grace,  to 
4 


38  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in  time 
of  need."     Heb.  x.  19-22;  iv.  14-16. 

Corresponding  with  this  precious  privilege 
of  prayer,  is  the  filial  temper  that  distinguish- 
es the  present  dispensation.  The  worship  of 
ancient  saints,  owing  to  the  imperfection  of 
the  economy  under  which  the}^  lived,  v/as 
marred  by  servile  fear.  Not  such  is  Chris- 
tian worship.  That,  by  the  aid  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  is  offered  with  a  filial  temper.  "  For," 
says  Paul,  "  ye  have  not  received  the  spirit 
of  bondage  again  to  fear;  but  ye  have  re- 
ceived the  Spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we 
cry,  Abba,  Father.  The  Spirit  itself  beareth 
witness  with  our  spirits,  that  we  are  the  chil- 
dren of  God."  Rom.  viii.  15,  16.  Jesus 
Christ  redeems  his  people  from  the  law,  that 
they  may  receive  the  adoption  of  sons;  "And 
because  ye  are  sons,"  says  Paul,  "  God  hath 
sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  your 
hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father.  Wherefore 
thou  art  no  more  a  servant,  but  a  son;  and  if 
a  son,  then  an  heir  of  God  through  Christ." 
Gal.  iv.  4-7. 

Finally,  the  Christian  dispensation  is  dis- 
tinguished, by  brighter  hopes  in  reference  to 
the  future  world.  Ancient  believers  were 
acquainted  with  the  great  facts,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  body,  and  a  life  to  come.  But  an 
inspired  writer,  speaking  of  Jesus  Christ, 
writes,  "Who  hath  abolished  death,  and  hath 
brought  hfe  and  immortality  to  light  through 
the  gospel."  2  Tim.  i.  10.  How  plain  the 
instructions  of  the  ?reat  Teacher !     "Marvel 


CHRISTIAN    DISPENSATION.  39 

not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is  coming,  in  the 
which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  his 
voice,  and  shall  come  forth:  they  that  have 
done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life  ;  and 
they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrec- 
tion of  damnation."  John  v.  28,  29.  "My 
sheep  hear  my  voice  and  they  follow  me;  and 

1  give  unto  them  eternal  life;  and  they  shall 
never  perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck  them 
out  of  my  hands."  John  x.  27,  28.  "Let  not 
your  hearts  be  troubled:  ye  believe  in  God, 
believe  also  in  me.  In  my  Father's  house 
are  many  mansions:  if  it  were  not  so,  I 
would  have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you.  And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a 
place  for  you,  I  will  come  again,  and  receive 
you  to  myself;  that  where  I  am,  there  ye 
may  be  also."  John  xiv.  1-3.  How  many 
passages  of  Scripture  might  be  here  repeated ! 
See  2    Tim.    iv.    6-S.     1    Cor.    xv.    42-58. 

2  Cor.  V.  1-8. 

So  superior  in  light — in  the  gift  of  the 
Spirit — m  pinvileges,  in  free  and  filial  inter- 
course with  God — and  in  hope  of  future 
blessedness,  is  the  Christian  dispensation! 
Comparing  the  ministration  of  the  law  with 
the  ministration  of  the  Spirit,  the  apostle  says, 
m  conclusion,  "  For  if  the  ministration  of 
condemnation  be  glory,  much  more  doth  the 
ministration  of  righteousness  exceed  in  glory. 
For  even  that  which  was  made  glorious  had 
no  glory  in  this  respect,  by  reason  of  the 
glory  that  excelleth.  For  if  that  which  was 
done  away  was  glorious,  much  more  that 


40  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

which  remaineth  is   glorious."     2   Cor.    iii. 
6-11. 

Thus  highly  favoured,  living  under  such  a 
dispensation  of  light  and  privileges,  of  the 
Spirit,  and  of  immortal  hopes,  how  should 
Christians  be  distinguished  by  a  conduct  pure 
and  heavenly!  Awake,  my  soul,  shake  off 
thy  slumbers  and  sluggishness,  and  strive  to 
act  up  to  thy  privileges.  Show  thy  gratitude 
to  God  for  what  he  has  done  for  thee.  Live 
by  faith.  Aspire  after  a  better  world.  Be 
humble  and  holy,  watchful  and  heavenly. 
Endeavour  to  shine  as  a  light  in  this  dark 
world.  Prepare  to  meet  thy  coming  Saviour 
and  Lord. 

PRAYER. 

Merciful  God,  I  bless  thee  that  thou  wast 
pleased  to  give  me  birth  under  the  new  and 
better  dispensation  of  grace.  Thou  hast  great- 
ly distinguished  the  Christian,  above  thine 
ancient  Church.  I  praise  thee  for  that  supe- 
rior light  and  those  richer  spiritual  influences, 
which  thou  hast  bestowed  on  thy  people 
under  the  present  economy.  I  bless  thee  for 
those  superior  privileges,  and  the  adoption  of 
sons  which  thou  hast  vouchsafed  to  us;  that 
we  are  no  longer  kept  at  a  distance  from 
thee,  but  are  permitted  to  come  into  the 
holiest  of  all,  through  the  rent  veil,  that  is, 
the  flesh  of  Christ,  and  make  the  nearest  ap- 
proach to  thy  Majesty  on  the  mercy-seat,  and 
converse  with  thee  by  prayer,  thanksgiving, 
and  praise,  with  confidence   of  a  gracious 


THE    GLORY    OF    GOD   IN    THE    CROSS.       41 

audience,  and  the  assurance  of  a  merciful 
answer.  I  thank  thee  for  the  spirit  of 
adoption,  to  form  our  hearts  to  a  fihal  tem- 
per, and  to  enable  us  to  call  thee  "Abba, 
Father.^'  I  bless  thee  for  those  brighter 
hopes  which  thou  dost  inspire  in  our  hearts, 
by  the  clearer  revelation  which  thou  hast 
afforded  in  regard  to  a  future  world,  and  by 
the  better  promises  of  the  gospel  of  our  Re- 
deemer. 

Grant  me  grace,  I  beseech  thee,  my  hea- 
venly Father,  duly  to  appreciate  the  state  in 
which  thou  hast  been  pleased  to  place  me, 
and  carefully  to  improve  these  superior  and 
distinguishing  privileges.  Let  me  live  near 
to  my  God,  and  enjoy  that  sweet  and  delight- 
ful intercourse,  which  I  am  invited  to  cherish 
and  cultivate.  Give  me,  I  entreat  thee,  a 
spiritual  and  heavenly  mind.  Call  off  my 
affections  from  things  below,  and  set  them 
on  things  above.  Let  the  same  mind  be  in 
me  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus.  Hear  me,  for 
his  sake.     Amen. 


MEDITATION  V. 


THE  GLORY  OF  GOD  IN  THE  CROSS. 

In  the  cross  of  Christ,  how  does  the  glory  of 
God  shine !  "  God,  who  commanded  the  light 
to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath  shined  into  our 


42  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

hearts  to  give  the  Hght  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  glory  of  God  m  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ." 
2  Cor.  iv.  4. 

The  glory  of  God  is  his  perfections;  where 
these  are  seen,  his  glory  is  seen.  He  loves 
his  own  glory;  and  the  great  end  of  all  his 
works,  is  the  exhibition  of  his  glory,  or  the 
display  of  his  infinite  perfections.  His  per- 
fections accordingly  are  exhibited  in  creation 
and  providence;  but  more  clearly  and  fully 
(and  especially  his  moral  attributes)  in  re- 
demption. 

His  wisdom,  for  example,  is  exhibited  in 
creation.  In  the  arrangement  of  land  and 
water;  in  the  structure  of  the  earth,  as  a 
habitation  for  man,  and  the  various  orders  of 
inferior  creatures;  in  the  senses  and  organs 
of  human  bodies,  and  the  adaptation  of  light 
and  other  objects  to  the  eye,  and  of  sounds  to 
the  ear;  in  the  formation  of  the  tongue  and 
lips  for  articulate  enunciation  of  the  voice;  in 
the  constitution  and  position  of  the  sun  in  our 
system,  for  imparting  Ught  and  heat  to  this 
earth  and  her  sister  planets;  and  in  ten  thou- 
sand other  particulars  that  might  be  men- 
tioned, the  wisdom  of  God  is  manifested.  So, 
in  the  provision  made  by  divine  Providence 
for  the  sustentation  and  nourishment  of  men 
and  other  creatures,  and  in  controlling  and 
superintending  their  actions,  the  same  attri- 
bute is  displayed. 

But  in  the  work  of  redemption  God  has 
made  a  brighter  exhibition  of  his  wisdom. 
In  the  person  of  the  Redeemer,  in  his  media- 


THE    GLORY    OF    GOD    IN    THE    CROSS.       43 

tion,  ill  his  substitution  in  the  sinner's  place, 
and  in  the  result  of  his  sufferings  and  death, 
there  is  a  wonderful  display  of  infinite  wis- 
dom. The  plan  of  salvation  was  far  beyond 
the  conception  of  created  intelligence.  None 
could  tell  whether  the  salvation  of  fallen  man 
was  possible.  To  heavenly  beings  he  ap-' 
peared  for  ever  ruined  by  his  apostasy.  But, 
behold,  the  infinite  mind  brings  forth  the 
wonderous  scheme,  by  which  every  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  his  restoration  to  the  divine 
favour,  and  the  recovery  of  his  lost  hoUness, 
is  removed.  Justice  is  satisfied,  and  the  sin- 
ner saved.  Sin  is  pardoned,  and  yet  sin  is 
punished.  The  rebel  is  released,  and  yet 
government  is  maintained.  God  is  glorified, 
while  he  exercises  his  boundless  mercy  in 
forgiving  and  saving  guilty  and  rebellious 
creatures,  who  had  ungratefully  broken  his 
laws,  and  daringly  insulted  his  infinite  ma- 
jesty. 

ThQ  justice  of  God  has  been  signally  dis- 
played in  his  dealings  with  our  race.  In  the 
expulsion  of  our  first  parents  from  paradise: 
in  the  curse  pronounced  that  caused  the  earth 
to  bring  forth  thorns  and  thistles,  and  to  de- 
mand from  man  laborious  culture,  in  order 
to  obtain  its  fruits;  in  the  general  and  over- 
whelming deluge;  in  the  fires  of  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah;  in  wars,  famine,  and  pestilence; 
in  diseases  and  death,  justice  is  fearfully  dis- 
played. And  it  may  be  seen  in  all  its  fearful 
terrors  in  the  fires  kindled  up  for  tormenting 
devils  and  lost  men. 


44  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

But  in  the  cross,  in  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  Jesus  Christ,  God  has  given  the  strongest 
and  the  most  convincing  demonstration  of  his 
strict  and  inflexible  justice.  There  we  see, 
that  sin  cannot  escape  punishment;  that  the 
claims  of  justice  must  be  satisfied,  or  the 
sinner  cannot  be  pardoned.  God  "spared 
not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us 
all.''  Rom.  vhi.  32.  The  cup  of  suffering 
could  not  pass  from  his  lips.  He  drank  up 
its  very  dregs.  Nothing  was  abated  in  his 
favour.  A  full  equivalent  of  sufferings  was 
exacted  from  him.  How  awful  is  divine 
justice  when  we  .look  at  the  cross!  Let 
sinners  tremble.  And  thou,  my  soul,  stand 
in  awe  of  this  frowning  attribute  of  thy  God! 

How  delightfully  shines  forth  in  the  cross 
of  our  Redeemer  the  love  of  God !  That  God 
is  a  benevolent  being  we  have  ample  proof 
in  creation  and  in  providence.  The  produc- 
tion of  innumerable  sensitive  creatures,  en- 
dowed with  various  capacities  for  enjoyment; 
the  provision  yiade  for  satisfying  their  diver- 
sified appetites  and  desires;  the  senses  of  the 
human  body,  which  are  so  many  sources  of 
pleasure;  the  endearing  relations  constituted, 
by  divine  wisdom,  in  domestic  life,  between 
husbands  and  wives,  parents  and  children, 
brothers  and  sisters;  the  struciture  and  in- 
tercourse of  social  life;  and  the  numerous 
sources  of  enjoyment  opened  in  creation  and 
providence — all  proclaim  the  benevolence  of 
the  Almighty. 

But  in  redemption  we  see  his  amazing 


THE    GLORT   OF    GOD   IN   THE    CROSS.       45 

goodness  and  mercy.  He  is  seen  to  be  not 
only  benevolent,  but  to  be  love.  "God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  be- 
gotten Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him, 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.'' 
"In  this  was  manifested  the  love  of  God  to- 
ward us,  because  that  God  sent  his  only  be- 
gotten Son  into  the  world,  that  we  might  live 
through  him.  Herein  is  love,  not  that  we 
loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent  his 
Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins." 
"Behold,  what  manner  of  love  the  Father 
hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should  be 
called  the  sons  of  God."  "But  God  com- 
mendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that,  while 
we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us." 
1  John  ix.  10;  iii.  1;  Rom.  v.  8.  In  such 
warm  language  the  sacred  writers  speak  on 
this  animating  subject. 

Benevolence  to  unoffending  creatures  is 
not  surprising.  The  goodness  of  the  Creator 
towards  our  first  parents,  while  in  a  state  of 
innocence,  and  his  signal  favours  bestowed 
on  holy  angels,  call  for  the  warmest  grati- 
tude and  praise.  But  his  pardoning  mercy 
and  distinguishing  love  shown  to  our  fallen 
race,  how  wonderful!  When  we  consider 
the  condition  of  sinful  man,  that  he  had 
apostatized  from  his  Creator,  and  rendered 
himself  guilty  and  vile  by  his  pollution;  that 
he  was  in  a  state  of  enmity  to  God,  and  felt 
no  disposition  to  return,  but  was  wandering 
more  and  more  from  his  God ;  that,  while  in 
this  state,  an  object,  not  of  mercy,  but  of 


46  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

incensed  justice,  his  offended  sovereign  should 
not  only  pity,  but  set  his  love  upon  him 
when  there  was  no  way  for  his  redemption, 
but  by  the  humiliation,  and  sufferings,  and 
death  of  his  own  beloved  Son;  how  amazing 
is  it,  that  the  ever  blessed  Jehovah,  who 
stood  in  no  need  of  the  service  of  our 
miserable  race,  but  could,  with  a  word,  have 
called  another  world  into  existence,  filled 
with  nobler  creatures,  and  established  in 
holiness,  to  rejoice  in  his  favours,  and  to  de- 
light in  offering  the  homage  of  grateful  and 
loving  hearts,  and  continual  and  lofty  praise, 
to  him  from  whom  they  received  their  being, 
and  all  their  endowments  and  blessedness; 
how  amazing  that  the  all  sufficient  Jehovah, 
whose  name  would  have  been  unblemished, 
if  he  had  left  us  to  perish  in  our  sins,  should 
freely  love  us,  and  determine,  in  a  way  so 
extraordinary,  to  save  us,  and  raise  us  to 
happiness  and  glory,  greater  than  we  should 
have  attained  if  we  had  never  sinned ! 

In  this  illustrious  manner,  the  glor^^  of 
God,  his  wisdom,  justice,  and  love,  shine 
forth  in  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  own 
Son.  Dwell,  my  soul,  upon  this  glorious 
subject.  Meditate  upon  it  again  and  again, 
that  thou  mayest  feel  its  transforming  in- 
fluence, by  inflaming  thy  love,  awakening 
thy  penitence,  increasing  thy  zeal,  and  ex- 
citing thy  desires  for  holiness  in  heart  and 
life.  "But  we  all,  with  open  face,  beholding 
as  in  a  glass,  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are 
changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to 


PRAYER.  47 

glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.'' 
2  Cor.  iii.  18.  Tiie  glory  of  God  assimilates 
into  his  own  likeness  those  who  contemplate 
it.  Let  me  love  the  glory  of  God,  and  con- 
template it,  with  the  eye  of  faith,  that  I  may 
participate  in  its  assimilating  influences,  and 
by  the  light  and  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  be 
changed  into  the  glorious  image  of  my  God. 

PRAYER. 

Great  and  Almighty  God,  I  praise  thee  for 
the  display  of  thy  glory  in  thy  works,  and 
especially  for  that  brighter  exhibition  of  it  in 
the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  see  thy  Avisdom 
in  the  arrangements  of  creation,  and  in  the 
order  of  thy  providence;  but  I  see  thy  wis- 
dom more  illustriously  displayed  in  the  salva- 
tion of  fallen  man,  by  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  thine  own  Son. 

Thy  justice  has  been  terribly  manifested  by 
the  judgments  inflicted  on  our  apostate  race; 
but  how  much  more  fearfully  manifested 
was  it  in  the  punishment  inflicted  on  thy 
well  beloved  Son,  for  the  sins  of  his  people ! 
Thou  hast  shown  thy  benevolence  in  the 
production  of  so  many  sensitive  creatures  of 
various  capacities  for  enjoyment,  and  in  the 
provision  made  for  supplying  them  with  ap- 
propriate pleasures;  but  in  the  plan  of  re- 
demption, and  in  the  gift  of  thy  Son  for  our 
salvation,  thou  hast  unfolded  thy  heart,  and 
shown  thyself  to  be  love. 

Oh!  may  I  love  to  trace  thy  perfections  in 


48  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

thy  works  and  ways,  but  especially  as  they 
shine  in  the  work  of  redemption.  May  I  love 
the  glory  of  my  God;  and,  by  contemplating 
it,  may  1  find  myself  changed  into  thy  blessed 
image,  inspired  with  hatred  of  sin,  and 
with  love  to  holiness.  May  I  long  for  that 
bright  display  of  thy  glory  which  beams 
around  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect, 
and  fills  them  with  unutterable  blessedness, 
and  calls  forth  rapturous  songs  of  praise  to 
God  and  the  Lamb.  Grant  my  prayer,  for 
Jesus'  sake.    Amen. 


MEDITATION  VI. 


THE  PERSON  OP  OUR  REDEEMER. 

How  important  is  it  for  me  and  others,  to 
know  the  true  character  of  our  Redeemer! 
We  ought  to  understand  well  the  foundation 
on  which  we  rest  our  hopes  for  eternity;  and 
to  be  assured,  that  he  to  whom  we  commit 
our  immortal  interests,  is  fully  able  to  secure 
them  against  all  dangers. 

Who,  my  soul,  is  he  to  whom  thou  hast 
committed  thyself?  Is  he  able  to  sustain  the 
high  office  of  Mediator  between  offended 
Majesty  and  his  offending  and  rebellious  crea- 
tures? Can  he  atone  for  thy  sins,  and  the 
sins  of  the  world?  Can  he  furnish  thee  and 
all  who  confide   in  him,  with  that  perfect 


THE  PERSON  OF  OUR  REDEEMER.    49 

righteousness  which  the  law  demands,  and 
without  which  no  sinner  can  be  admitted  into 
heaven  ?  Is  he  able  to  deliver  thee  out  of  the 
hands  of  all  those  mahgnant  enemies,  who 
seek  thy  ruin,  and  bring  Ihee  safely  to  his  eter- 
nal kinsrdom?  Is  there  sufficient  reason  to 
warrant  thee  to  place  the  most  unlimited  con- 
fidence in  him  for  every  thing  that  thou  canst 
need  or  desire  ?  Blessed  be  God,  there  are 
ample  grounds  for  such  confidence!  Re- 
joice, my  soul;  thou  m.ayest  safely  trust  in  thy 
Redeemer.  He  has  all  power  to  save  thee, 
and  all  who  trust  in  him. 

But  let  me  review  the  grounds  of  my  hope, 
and  thus  strengthen  my  faith.  Who  is  my 
Redeemer  ?  He  is  j  ust  what  the  exigencies  of 
my  condition  require.  He  is  God  and  man 
in  one  Divine  Person. 

I  look  to  the  cross,  and  there  I  behold  one 
in  human  form;  nailed  to  the  accursed  tree; 
bleeding  and  dying  in  shame  and  ignominy. 
Can  I  doubt  that  he  was  a  man,  when  he 
was  seen  as  such  by  every  eye  that  saw  him 
suspended  on  the  cross?  His  body  was 
scourged  by  Pilate's  orders ;  his  temples  torn 
by  a  crown  of  thorns ;  his  hands  and  feet 
w^ere  nailed  to  the  cross ;  his  body  was  then 
lifted  up  on  the  cross  to  be  thrust  violently 
into  the  place  prepared,  that  he  might  die  a 
lingering  and  agonizing  death ;  and  his  side 
was  afterwards  pierced  with  a  spear.  From 
the  wound  came  forth  blood  and  water ;  sure 
proofs  of  his  death.  "Behold  my  hands  and 
feet;"  said  he  to  his  terrified  disciples,  who 


50  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

imagined  him  to  be  a  spirit,  "that  it  is  I 
myself:  handle  me,  and  see;  for  a  spirit  hath 
not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye  see  me  have." 

I  read  the  gospels,  and  there  I  learn,  that 
my  Redeemer  was  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  in  the  womb  of  a  virgin,  born  in  the 
appointed  time,  and  bound,  like  other  human 
infants,  in  swaddling  bands.  Like  other  men 
he  ate  and  drank,  hungered  and  thirsted, 
became  weary  and  needed  rest.  He  slept 
and  awoke,  walked  and  conversed  whh  his 
disciples.  In  a  word  he  had  all  the  proper- 
ties and  sinless  infirmities  of  human  nature. 
I  learn  that  he  had  too  a  rational  soul,  en- 
dowed with  faculties  of  understanding,  will, 
and  affections.  Of  him  it  is  written:  "And 
Jesus  increased  in  wisdom  and  stature,  and 
in  favour  with  God  and  man."  Of  himself 
he  said  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  "My 
SOUL  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
death." 

But,  while  my  Redeemer  possessed  a  per- 
fect human  nature,  a  reasonable  soul,  as  well 
as  an  organized  body  like  other  men,  and 
denominated  himself  by  the  title,  "Son  op 
MAN,"  he  was  perfectly  holy,  and  free  from 
all  sin. 

Jesus  was  indeed  a  man;  for,  if  he  had  not 
possessed  our  nature,  he  could  not  have  been 
subject  to  the  law  that  was  given  to  our  race, 
nor  been  our  substitute. 

But  he  was  infinitely  more  than  a  mere 
man.  He  was  "God  over  all  blessed  for 
ever."     Of  this  great  truth,  the  Godhead  of 


THE  PERSON  OP  OUR  REDEEMER.    51 

my  Redeemer,  I  find  in  scripture  the  most 
abundant  proof.  In  this  character  he  was 
revealed  to  God's  ancient  church.  He  was 
the  angel  who  went  before  the  chosen  tribes, 
and  led  them  through  the  wilderness;  of 
whom  Jehovah  said,  "Beware  of  him,  and 
obey  his  voice,  provoke  him  not;  for  he  will 
not  pardon  your  transgressions;  for  my  name 
is  in  him."  Ex.  xxiii.  20,  21.  Speaking  of 
him,  David,  uttering  the  address  of  Jehovah 
to  him,  says,  "I  will  declare  the  decree:  the 
Lord  hath  said  unto  me.  Thou  art  my  Son: 
This  day  have  I  begotten  thee.^^  Ps.  ii.  7. 
Thus,  before  Jesus  was  born,  he  was  styled 
the  Son  of  God.  The  Jews  understood  the 
import  of  this  lofty  title;  for  when  our 
Saviour  assumed  it,  by  calling  God  his 
Father,  in  a  peculiar  sense,  they  sought  to 
kill  him;  because,  by  asserting  his  filial  rela- 
tion to  God,  he  made  himself  equal  to  God. 
John  V.  17-23.  What  lofty  titles  does  Isaiah 
apply  to  the  Redeemer!  "For  unto  us  a 
child  is  born,  unto  us  a  son  is  given:  and  the 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder:  and 
his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Coun- 
sellor, The  mighty  God,  The  everlasting 
Father,  The  Prince  of  Peace."    Isa.  v.  6. 

In  many  passages  that  incommunicable 
name  Jehovah,  which  cannot  be  applied  to 
any  creature  however  exalted,  is  by  this 
prophet  and  others  given  to  the  Redeemer. 
See  Isa.  xlv.  20-25;  xlviii.  17;  Ii.  9-11; 
liv.  5.     Hos.  i.  7.     Zech.  ii.  10,  11. 

Such  is  a  specimen  of  the  testimonies  of 


52  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

tlie  Old  Testament  to  the  Divinity  of  the 
Messiah.  But  when  I  read  the  pages  of  the 
New  Testament,  how  full,  and  plain,  and  ex- 
plicit, the  testimonies  of  the  inspired  writers 
to  this  great  truth!  John  begins  his  gospel 
thus:  "In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and 
the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God.  The  same  was  in  the  beginning  with 
God.  All  things  were  made  by  him;  and 
without  him  was  not  any  thing  m.ade  that 
was  made.  In  him  was  life  ;  and  the  life  was 
the  light  of  men."  John  i.  1-4.  "And  the 
Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us, 
(and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the 
only  begotten  of  the  Father,)  full  of  grace 
and  truth."  Verse  14.  Paul,  in  his  epistle 
to  the  Colossians,  speaks  of  the  Redeemer  in 
this  lofty  manner:  "  Who  is  the  image  of  the 
invisible  God,  the  first  born  of  every  creature. 
For  by  him  were  all  things  created  that  are 
in  heaven,  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and 
invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones  or  domi- 
nions, or  principalities,  or  powers:  all  things 
were  created  by  him,  and  for  him:  and  he  is 
before  all  things,  and  by  him  all  things  con- 
sist." Col.  i.  15-17.  Again,  in  his  epistle  to 
the  Philippians:  "  Who,  being  in  the  form  of 
God,  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with 
God."  "That  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every 
knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven  and 
things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth; 
and  that  every  tongue  should  confess  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the 
Father."     Phil.  ii.   C,  10,  11.     In   similar 


THE  PERSON  OP  OUR  REDEEMER.    55 

terms  he  speaks,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Hebrews: 
*'God,  who  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers 
manners,  spake  in  time  past,  unto  the  fathers 
by  the  prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days 
spoken  unto  us  iDy  his  Son,  whom  he  hath 
appointed  heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  also  he 
made  the  worlds;  who  being  the  brightness 
of  his  glory  and  the  express  image  of  his 
person,  and  upholding  all  things  by  the  word 
of  his  power,  when  he  had  by  himself  purged 
our  sins,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  high.'^  Heb.  i.  1-3.  And  in  the 
book  of  Revelation  the  whole  creation  are 
represented  as  worshipping  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Lamb.     Rev.  v.  11-14. 

How  full,  how  strong,  how  abundant  the 
testimonies,  both  of  the  Old  and  of  the  New 
Testament,  to  the  Godhead  of  our  Redeemer! 
Not  a  doubt  should  remain  on  the  mind,  that 
he  is  "  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever." 

But  it  is  not  to  be  forgotten,  that  he  is  God 
and  man  in  one  person.  His  human  nature 
had  no  personahty  of  its  own;  because  it 
never  existed  by  itself,  apart  from  the  divine 
nature.  From  the  first  moment  of  its  exist- 
ence it  was  taken  into  union  with  the  divine 
nature;  and  of  course  was  absorbed  by  a 
divine  person,  and  became  a  complex  portion 
of  a  divine  person.  The  prophet  Isaiah  says, 
(chap.  vii.  14.)  "Behold,  a  virgin  shall  con- 
ceive, and  bear  a  son,  and  his  name  shall  be 
called  Immanuel;"  that  is,  God  with  us. 
The  apostle  Paul  exclaims,  "And  without 
controversy,  great  is  the  mystery  of  godli- 
5 


54  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

ness :  God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh."  l  Tim. 
iii.  16.  This  hypostatic  union  of  the  two 
natures,  justifies  the  language  used  hy  our 
Lord  to  Nicodemus :  "  And  no  man  hath 
ascended  up  to  heaven,  but  he  that  came 
down  from  heaven,  even  the  Son  of  man 
WHICH  IS  IN  heaven:  (John  iii.  13,)  and 
that  of  Paul :  "  The  church  of  God  which 
he  purchased  with  his  own  blood.'^  Acts 
XX.  28. 

How  perfectly  was  the  character  of  our 
Saviour  adapted  to  the  office  of  Mediator, 
which  he  assumed,  and  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion which  he  undertook !  As  man  he  could 
be  subject  to  law,  obey  and  suffer;  and  as 
God  he  could  sustain  his  human  nature 
under  any  amount  of  sufferings;  while  the 
infinite  dignity  of  his  person  imparted  an  in- 
finite value  to  his  sufferings  and  obedience, 
and  rendered  them  a  full  equivalent  for  the 
sufferings  due  to  all  who  shall,  be  saved,  and 
furnished  a  perfect  righteousness  sufficient  to 
justify  all  who  believe,  and  entitle  them  to 
everlasting  life. 

With  what  unlimited  confidence  may  I 
commit  my  eternal  interests  into  his  hands ! 
And  what  abundant  reason  have  I  to  adopt 
the  apostle's  language :  "  I  know  in  whom  I 
have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  he  is 
able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  commited 
unto  him  against  that  day."  2  Tim.  i.  12. 
In  coming  to  him,  I  am  chargeable  with 
neither  impiety  nor  folly ;  for  I  come  home, 
by  commiting  myself  to  my   God,  and  in 


PRAYER.  55 

devoting  myself  to  him,  I  only  perform  what 
duty  and  gratitude  prompt  and  constrain  me 
to  do  :  "  for  to  this  end  Christ  both  died,  and 
revived,  and  rose  again,  that  he  might  be 
Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  of  the  living." 
Rom.  xiv.  9.  "  For  the  Father  judgeth  no 
man,  but  hath  committed  all  judgment  unto 
the  Son ;  that  all  men  might  honour  the  Son, 
even  as  they  honour  the  Father.  He  that 
honoureth  not  the  Son,  honoureth  not  the 
Father  which  hath  sent  him."   John  v.  22, 23. 

PRAYER. 

Great  and  merciful  God,  I  adore  thee  for 
providing  for  our  fallen  race  a  glorious  Me- 
diator, who  could  interpose  between  us  and 
our  offended  Sovereign,  and  avert  from  us 
his  terrible  wrath.  I  extol  thy  infinite  wis- 
dom, displayed  in  the  wonderful  constitution 
of  his  PERSON.  I  bless  thee  for  the  abundant 
proof  of  the  reahty  of  his  hunian  nature ; 
that  he  possessed  both  an  organized  body 
and  a  reasonable  soul ;  so  that  he  could  be 
made  subject  to  the  law  of  our  race,  and  both 
obey  its  precepts,  and  endure  its  penalty.  I 
rejoice  to  know,  that,  being  perfectly  holy, 
and  free  from  sin,  he  did  obey  the  law,  in  the 
most  faultless  manner ;  and  that  he  did  en- 
dure its  penalty  in  its  utmost  extent ;  so  as  to 
make  an  ample  atonement  for  sin,  and  to 
work  out  a  complete  righteousness,  for  the 
full  justification  of  every  true  believer. 

I  bless  thee,  0  God,  for  the  ample  testi- 


56  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

mony  of  thy  word  to  assure  us,  that  our  Re- 
deemer was  infinitely  more  than  man  ;  being 
the  second  person  in  the  adorable  Trinity^ 
God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever ;  Immanuel, 
God  with  us,  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,  God 
and  man  in  one  divine  person  ;  and  thus  able 
to  sustain  his  human  nature  under  the  im- 
mense load  of  sufferings  he  endured,  and  to 
impart  an  infinite  value  to  his  sufferings  and 
obedience ;  and  thus  render  them  amply  suf- 
ficient to  atone  for  the  sins,  and  to  justify  the 
persons,  of  all  who  shall  believe  in  him  to  the 
end  of  time. 

Blessed  be  God,  I  feel  confident  that  he  is 
able  and  willing  to  save  unto  the  uttermost 
all  that  will  come  unto  God  by  him.  I  there- 
fore come  to  him,  and  commit  my  immortal 
soul  into  his  hands,  and  intrust  to  him  the 
management  of  my  eternal  interests ;  assured 
that  he  can  keep  what  I  have  committed  to 
him  till  the  great  and  final  day.  Blessed  be 
God  for  such  a  glorious  and  all  sufficient 
Saviour,  and  for  such  assured  confidence  in 
his  power  and  grace.     Amen. 


CONDESCENSION    OP    CHRIST.  57 


MEDITATION  VII. 


THE    INFINITE     CONDESCENSION    OF    THE 
REDEEMER. 

In  the  counsels  of  eternity  the  plan  of  saU^a- 
tion  was  laid.  Then  was  it  seen  that  no  one 
in  the  universe  could  redeem  our  fallen  race 
but  the  Son  of  God.  Will  he  condescend  to 
become  mediator  between  God  and  his  sin- 
ful creatures?  He  did  thus  condescend.  He 
most  willingly  engaged  to  assume  the  office; 
and  that  we  might  know  his  feelings  in  regard 
to  it,  he,  ages  ago,  uttered  this  cheering  lan- 
guage :  "  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou  didst 
not  require;  mine  ears  hast  thou  opened: 
burnt-oifering  and  sin-offering  hast  thou  not 
required.  Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come:  in  the 
volume  of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me;  I 
deUght  to  do  thy  will,  0  my  God.''  Ps.  xl. 
6-8.  Heb.  X.  5-7. 

How  condescending  was  our  Redeemer  in 
giving  to  our  race  such  early  intimation  of  his 
coming  to  redeem  the  world,  by  bruising  the 
serpent's  head,  or  destroying  the  works  of  the 
devil,  and  in  suffering  himself  to  be  exhibit- 
ed to  the  Church  as  her  Saviour,  by  such  a 
variety  of  types  and  ceremonies,  and  so  long 
a  train  of  prophecies  and  promises,  to  sustain 
her  faith ! 


5S  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

,  How  condescending  was  it  in  the  Son  of 
God  to  assume  the  fashion  of  a  man,  when 
he  appeared  to  Abraham,  and  permitted  that 
patriarch  to  plead  with  him  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  Sodom,  that  guilty  and  polluted  citj'- ! 
Gen.  xviii.  As  the  angel  in  whom  was 
Jehovah's  name,  he  condescended  to  conduct 
the  tribes  of  Israel  through  the  wilderness  to 
the  land  of  promise ;  he  too  watched  over  the 
interests  of  his  Church,  while  dweUing  in  that 
chosen  land ;  and  then  in  the  appointed  time, 
he  appeared  on  this  earth,  in  human  form,  to 
accomplish  his  glorious  and  gracious  work  of 
saving  our  race ! 

And  while  engaged  in  his  work  in  what 
various  forms  was  his  condecension  dis- 
played ! 

When  Nicodemus,  ashamed  or  afraid  to 
let  it  be  known  that  he  entertained  any  fa- 
vourable sentiments  towards  our  Redeemer, 
came  by  night  to  converse  with  him,  he  did 
not  sternly  rebuke  him  for  his  timidity  or 
cowardice,  but  graciously  condescended  to 
enter  into  conversation  with  him,  to  answer 
his  questions,  and  to  impart  the  most  im- 
portant instructions. 

How  did  his  condescension  shine  in  his 
conversation  with  the  woman  of  Samaria! 
Wearied  with  his  journey  he  sat  down  on 
Jacob's  well,  while  his  disciples  had  gone  to 
buy  meat  in  a  neighbouring  city.  A  woman 
of  Samaria  came  to  the  well  to  draw  water; 
and,  to  lead  her  into  conversation  designed 
for  her  spiritual  benefit,  he  asked  her  to 


CONDESCENSION    OF    CHRIST.  59 

give  him  drink.  As  the  Jews  had  no 
deaUngs  with  the  Samaritans,  she  expressed 
her  surprise  that  he  being  a  Jew,  should 
make  such  a  request.  In  the  prejudices  of 
the  Jews,  our  blessed  Lord  did  not  parti- 
cipate. He  immediately,  hy  his  heavenly 
conversation,  turned  her  attention  to  that  liv- 
ing water  that  imparts  life  to  the  soul,  and 
pursued  his  conversation  with  her,  so  that 
she  and  many  of  the  Samaritans  were  led  to 
believe  him  to  be  the  promised  Messiah. 
John  iv. 

With  what  condescension  did  our  Lord 
treat  Martha,  the  sister  of  Lazarus  and  Mary ! 
Being  of  an  anxious  and  fretful  disposition, 
while  cumbered  with  much  serving,  and  de- 
sirous of  preparing  a  suitable  supper  for  her 
guests,  she  cam.e  in  a  pettish  maimer  to  Jesus, 
and  complaining  of  the  conduct  of  her  wise 
and  prudent  sister,  she  without  becoming 
reverence  gave  utterance  to  her  improper 
feelings:  "Lord,  dost  thou  not  care  that  my 
sister  hath  left  me  to  serve  alone?  bid  her 
therefore  that  she  help  me."  To  this  imper- 
tinent apphcation,  our  Lord  meekly  replied: 
"  Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful  and  trou- 
bled about  many  things;  but  one  thing  is 
needful ;  and  Mary  hath  chosen  that  good 
part,  which  shall  not  be  taken  from  her." 
Luke  X.  40-42. 

Such  was  our  Redeemer's  attachment  to 
this  family,  that  although  the  Jews  had  sought 
to  stone  him,  yet,  to  raise  Lazarus  from  the 
dead;  he,  to  the   surprise   of   his  disciples, 


60  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

went  to  that  part  of  the  land;  and,  with  what 
atTectionate  condescension  toward  them,  did 
he  act !  Seeing  Mary  weeping,  and  tlie  Jews 
also  weeping  who  came  with  her,  "he  groan- 
ed in  spirit,  and  was  troubled."  "Jesus 
wept."  Well  might  the  Jews  exclaim,  "Be- 
hold, how  he  loved  him  !"  Approaching  the 
grave,  he  said  to  Martha,  whose  faith  waver- 
ed, "Said  I  not  unto  thee,  that,  if  thou 
wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldest  see  the  glo- 
ry of  God?"  Then,  lifting  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  he  said  for  the  benefit  of  all  present, 
"  Father,  I  ihank  thee  that  thou  hast  heard 
me  ;"  and,  with  a  loud  voice,  he  command- 
ed Lazarus  to  come  forth.  Lazarus  obeyed, 
came  forth,  and  lived.     John  xi. 

How  frequently  the  Redeemer  manifested 
his  condescension  toward  his  disciples  in  bear- 
ing with  their  infirmities,  dulness,  and  want 
of  faith!  What  a  surprising  exhibition  of 
unequalled  condescension  we  see,  when,  to 
set  them  an  example  of  humility  and  brother- 
ly love,  he,  knowing  that  the  Father  had 
given  all  things  into  his  hands,  and  that  he 
was  come  from  God,  and  went  to  God, 
arose  from  supper,  and  laid  aside  his  gar- 
ments, and  took  a  towel  and  girded  himself; 
and  having  poured  water  into  a  bason,  began 
to  wash  the  disciples'  feet  and  to  wipe  them 
with  the  towel  wherewith  he  was  girded! 
Behold,  the  Lord  of  glory,  while  conscious 
of  his  exalted  standing  in  the  universe,  stoops 
to  perform  such  menial  acts  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  his  disciples ! 


CONDESCENSION    OF    CHRIST.  61 

Peter,  when  the  Redeemer  had  said  to  his 
disciples,  "all  ye  shall  be  offended  because 
of  me  this  night,"  made  solemn  protestations 
of  his  unwavering  attachment;  and  yet  slept, 
with  James  and  John,  while  their  Master 
was  agonizing  in  the  garden  !  How  was  he 
treated?  Jesus,  when  he  found  them  sleep- 
ing, said  unto  Peter,  "Simon,  sleepest  thou? 
couldst  not  thou  watch  one  hour?  Watch 
ye  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into  temptation  ;" 
and  then  kindly  adds  this  apology,  "The 
spirit  truly  is  ready,  but  the  flesh  is  weak." 
Mark  xiv.  27-42.  Peter  shamefully  denied 
his  Lord;  and  when  he  had  repeated  his 
great  offence  three  times,  "the  Lord  turned, 
and  looked  upon  Peter."  How  piercing  this 
look  of  his  suffering  Master!  Peter's  heart 
felt  it.  "  He  went  out  and  wept  bitterly." 
Luke  xxii.  61,  62.  All  his  disciples  had 
failed  in  duty  more  or  less,  yet  their  merciful 
Saviour,  after  he  had  arisen  from  the  dead, 
received  them  into  favour  again,  and  renew- 
ed their  commission  to  the  apostleship. 
What  kindness  and  condescension  are  seen 
in  all  tliese  occurrences !  How  worthy  of 
all  admiration ! 

Such  was  the  condescension  of  the  Re- 
deemer, both  before,  and  after,  his  incarna- 
tion. And  now,  while  ascended  to  his  Me- 
diatorial throne,  and  reigning  in  inconceiv- 
able glory  as  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  is 
he  not  as  condescending  as  ever?  Does  he 
not  love,  watch  over,  and  defend  his  Church  ? 
Does  he  not  bear  her  on  his  heart,  interced- 
6 


^2  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

in g  for   her  before  the  throne  of  the  Most 
High? 

And  hast  not  thou,  my  soul,  shared  in  his 
great  condescension  and  loving-kindness? 
Wiiose  eye  Avatched  over  thee,  wliilst  thou 
wast  wandering  far  from  righteousness,  for- 
getful and  unconcerned  about  thy  eternal 
interests?  Who  laid  the  restraints  of  provi- 
dence and  grace  upon  thee;  so  as  to  keep 
thee  from  the  great  sins  to  which  thou  wast 
tempted?  Was  it  not  thy  condescending 
Saviour,  who  loved  thee,  while  wandering 
away  from  him,  heedless  of  his  kind  invita- 
tions to  return  and  receive  his  salvation? 
Who,  in  the  appointed  time,  sent  his  Spirit 
to  awaken,  to  arouse,  to  convict,  and  convert 
thee?  Who  washed  away  thy  sins,  and 
brought  thee  into  a  state  of  reconciliation 
and  favour  with  God?  Who  has  kept  and 
guarded  thee,  healed  thy  backslidings  and 
quickened  thee  in  the  service  of  God,  and 
brightened  thy  hopes?  Hast  thou  not  re- 
ceived all  these  signal  favours  from  the  lov- 
ing-kindness of  thy  condescending  Saviour? 
Imitate  the  condescension  of  thy  exalted 
Master.  Banish  from  thy  heart  pride  and 
ambition.     Condescend  to  men  of  low  estate. 


PRAYER. 

I  bless  thee,  0  my  Redeemer,  for  thine 
infinite  condescension  in  assuming  the  office 
of  Mediator  between  God  and  man.  I  praise 
thee  for  the  early  intimation  of  thy  merciful 


PRATER.  63 

purpose,  given  in  the  first  promise,  concerning 
the  Seed  of  the  woman  who  was  to  bruise 
the  serpent's  head,  and  for  the  subsequent 
clearer  discoveries  afforded  by  various  pre- 
dictions and  promises  concerning  the  Messiali 
and  his  v/ork.  I  bless  thee  for  the  proofs  of 
thy  wilhngness  to  execute  the  office  of  Medi- 
ator, manifested  by  appearing  to  the  patri- 
archs in  human  form,  and  thus  anticipating 
the  assumption  of  our  nature  in  the  appoint- 
ed time.  I  praise  thee  for  condescending  to 
lead,  as  the  Angel  of  the  covenant,  the  chosen 
tribes  through  the  wilderness  to  the  land  of 
promise;  and  for  condescending  to  superin- 
tend and  manage  the  affairs  of  thy  church, 
till  thy  advent  in  the  world.  I  bless  thee  for 
the  condescension  displayed  in  thy  public 
ministry,  and  in  thy  treatment  of  thy  dis- 
ciples, and  of  all  who  apply  to  thee  for  in- 
structions; and  for  the  condescension  so  sig- 
nally shown  to  thy  disciples,  after  thy  resur- 
rection from  the  dead,  by  repeated  appear- 
ances to  them,  in  order  to  afford  to  them  in- 
fallible proofs  that  thou  wast  alive  again,  and 
about  to  ascend  in  glory  to  heaven. 

Infinite  condescension !  May  I  be  enabled 
to  imbibe  thy  spirit,  and  always  in  my  inter- 
course with  my  fellow  disciples,  and  with  my 
fellow  men,  show  this  lovely  trait  of  charac- 
ter. May  I  ever  be  as  my  Saviour  was, 
"meek  and  lowly  in  heart;"  that  thus  I  may 
prove  myself  a  true  disciple  of  my  blessed 
Redeemer.    Amen. 


64  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 


MEDITATION  VIII. 


THE    PROFOUND    HUMILIATION    OP    CHRIST. 

Our  blessed  Lord  has  not  only  displayed 
infinite  condescension,  but  submitted  to  the 
most  profound  humiliation. 

Of  his  humiliation  we  find  a  summary  and 
comprehensive  view  given  by  the  apostle 
Paul,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Philippians;  chap, 
ii.  "  Who,  being  in  the  form  of  God,  thought 
it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God:  but 
made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon 
him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in 
the  likeness  of  men:  and  being  found  in 
fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  and 
became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death 
of  the  cross."  Here  is  exhibited  the  humilia- 
tion of  our  blessed  Lord  from  its  commence- 
ment to  its  termination.  It  demands  an 
attentive  consideration  in  all  its  parts.  Let 
me  devoutly  look  at  them. 

1.  He,  being  in  the  form  of  God,  was 
equal  with  God.  As  such  he  was  seen  by 
angels;  seated  on  the  throne  of  heaven  in  all 
his  infinite  majesty,  demanding  and  receiving 
the  worship  of  every  order  of  celestial  beings. 
Before  him  angels  and  archangels  cast  their 
crowns,  and  prostrated  themselves  at  his  feet, 
in  acknowledgment  of  his  supreme   excel- 


HUMILIATION    OF    CHRIST.  65 

lence,  and  of  their  entire  dependence  on  him 
for  existence  and  every  endowment.  "But 
he  made  himself  of  no  reputation;"  (in 
the  original,)  he  emptied  himself;  laid  aside 
his  glory;  did  not  make  such  manifestations 
of  his  august  majesty  as  he  did  to  angels, 
and  had  done  to  the  patriarchs;  when  he 
appeared  to  them,  as  to  Abraham,  and  to 
Moses,  and  to  the  children  of  Israel  at  mount 
Sinai,  when  he  publislied  the  law  in  such 
terrific  displays  of  grandeur  and  majesty. 

2.  This  emptying  himself  was  done  by 
taking  upon  himself  the  form  of  a  servant. 
To  this  act  of  humiliation  the  Son  of  God 
consented,  by  agreeing  to  become  a  Media- 
tor; for  it  involved  the  assumption  of  the 
nature  of  that  order  of  creatures  for  whom  he 
became  mediator;  and  rendered  him,  who 
was  above  all  law  and  authority,  and  subject 
to  no  being  whatever,  servant  to  his  eternal 
Father,  and  subjected  him  in  his  assumed 
nature,  to  the  law  that  had  been  given  to 
that  nature.  Had  the  Son  of  God  assumed 
into  personal  union  with  himself  the  highest 
created  nature  in  the  universe,  it  would  have 
been  unspeakable  condescension,  and  would 
have  placed  him  in  the  condition  of  a  ser- 
vant to  his  eternal  Father. 

3.  He  made  a  lower  stoop  than  this.  "He 
was  made  in  the  likeness  of  men."  He  did 
not  assume  the  nature  of  angels;  he  did  not 
appear  in  the  likeness  of  Michael  or  Gabriel: 
but  he  assumed  the  nature  of  man,  who, 
although  made  in  the  image  and  likeness  oi 


66  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

his  Creator,  yet  was  inferior  to  angels.  And 
he  assumed  this  nature  not  as  it  was  in  a 
state  of  innocence,  free  from  all  the  conse- 
quences of  sin,  and  all  the  seeds  of  disease 
and  death;  but  as  it  had  become  by  trans- 
gression, subject  to  many  ills,  and  finally  to 
death.  "He  was  made  like  unto  us  in  all 
things,  sin  only  excepted.'^  In  this  inferior 
nature,  degraded  as  it  was  by  sin,  our  blessed 
Redeemer  appeared  as  a  servant  to  his 
Father. 

4.  There  is  another  step  in  his  humiliation; 
for  the  apostle  says,  that,  "being  found  in 
fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  and 
became  obedient."  He  was  pleased  to  place 
himself  under  obligation  to  obey  the  law,  not 
only  as  it  governed  man  in  a  state  of  inno- 
cence, but  as  it  was  presented  to  him  in  his 
fallen  state.  In  token  of  this  obligation,  he 
was,  on  the  eighth  day,  circumcised;  and 
became  subject  to  the  whole  Mosaic  law, 
moral,  ceremonial,  and  civil.  He  observed 
the  Jewish  feasts,  the  temple-service,  and 
paid  tribute -money.  His  obedience  was  per- 
fect; free  from  every  defect  in  regard  to  prin- 
ciple, action,  and  continuance;  and  rendered, 
in  circumstances  of  peculiar  difficulty,  in 
opposition  to  prevailing  customs,  and  the  pre- 
scriptions of  the  scribes  and  rulers;  and  the 
most  violent  assaults  of  temptations,  urged 
by  Satan,  in  every  form,  and  with  the  great- 
est violence. 

5.  The  Saviour  rendered  himself  subject 
to  the  law,  not  only  in  its  preceptive,  but  in 


HUMILIATION    OF    CHRIST.  67 

its  penal  demands.  "He  became  obedient 
unto  death."  He  was  the  substitute  of  man, 
and  engaged  to  satisfy  all  the  demands  of  the 
divine  Jaw  on  fallen  man.  In  his  innocent 
state,  the  law  required  from  man  nothing  but 
obedience  to  its  holy  precepts.  Had  he  ren- 
dered this,  by  retaining  the  purity  of  his  heart 
and  life,  the  law  would  have  demanded 
nothing  more.  He  would  have  been  right- 
eous, and  entitled  to  the  promised  reward. 
He  failed  in  his  obedience;  he  sinned;  and 
the  law  obtained  a  new  demand ;  it  required 
a  full  satisfaction  for  the  dishonour  done  to 
it  by  disobedience. 

To  this  demand  the  Saviour  submitted, 
and  engaged,  as  man's  Redeemer,  to  pay  all 
his  debts,  by  subjecting  himself  to  all  the 
sufferings  which  a  full  satisfaction  for  sin 
required. 

This  part  of  the  Saviour's  humiliation, 
comprehends  all  the  sufferings  which  he 
endured,  from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of 
his  life;  and  will  come  under  review  in  a 
subsequent  meditation.  Let  me  at  present 
look  at  that  part  named  by  the  apostle  in  the 
terms  "death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross." 
"x\s  it  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die," 
he  stooped  so  low  as  to  endure  this  evil. 
His  soul  was  separated  from  his  body;  his 
blessed  body  became  lifeless,  and  was  laid  in 
the  grave. 

His  death  was  produced,  not  by  disease, 
nor  by  the  mere  hand  of  violence;  but  by  a 
judicial  act,  which  condemned  him  to  a  death 


68  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

of  the  most  shameful  kind;  a  death  inflicted 
on  slaves,  thieves,  and  murderers.  It  was 
the  death  of  the  cross.  And  his  death  on  the 
cross,  was  attended  with  every  circumstance 
of  pain  and  shame,  and  violence,  that  could 
be  combined  together  by  the  malice  and 
ingenuity  of  his  malignant  enemies. 

So  profound  was  the  humiliation  of  the 
Son  of  God  !  The  Sovereign  of  the  universe 
became  a  servant;  the  great  Creator,  a 
dependent  creature;  the  supreme  Lawgiver, 
a  subject  to  his  own  law !  He,  whose  palace 
is  the  highest  heaven,  had  no  dweUing  place 
of  his  own;  he,  who  issues  his  orders  to  the 
armies  of  heaven,  and  is  worshipped  by 
angels  and  archangels,  was  attended  by  a  few 
fishermen  and  pubhcans;  he,  who  is  infinite- 
ly rich  became  poor  and  dependent  on  chari- 
ty for  subsistence!  He,  of  whom  it  is  writ- 
ten, "none  can  stay  his  hand,  or  say  unto 
him.  What  doest  thou?"  was  opposed  by 
Jewish  rulers  and  priests!  He,  who  spake, 
and  soldiers  who  came  to  arrest  him,  fell  to 
the  ground,  and  would  have  died  had  he 
willed  it;  suffered  himself  to  be  bound  by 
them,  and  led  to  the  high  priest.  The  Judge 
of  all,  was  judged  by  the  Jewish  council; 
mocked  by  Herod;  scourged,  condemned, 
and  crucified  by  the  Roman  governor!  The 
Author  of  hfe  in  every  form,  died  by  the 
hands  of  wicked  men !  The  well  beloved 
Son  of  God  agonized  under  the  hidings  of  his 
Father's  face,  and  the  infliction  of  the  curse 
of  his  holy  and  violated  law ! 


PRAYER.  69 

To  all  this  humiliation  our  blessed  Lord 
submitted  for  the  salvation  of  his  people. 
How  amazing!  How  frequently  should  I 
contemplate  it  hy  faith,  and  endeavour  to 
imbibe  the  spirit  that  prompted  him  to  set 
such  an  example  to  his  people !  True,  it  was 
designed  for  a  more  important  purpose,  to 
make  a  real  expiation  for  sin;  still  I  may  see 
in  it  a  bright  and  glorious  example,  worthy 
of  my  devout  and  ,  affectionate  imitation. 
Immediately  before,  and  in  connexion  with 
this  exhibition  of  the  Saviour's  humiUation, 
the  apostle  says,  "Let  this  mind  be  in  you, 
which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus ;".  and  then 
proceeds  to  describe  this  mind  of  Christ,  by 
showing  how  it  appeared  in  his  profound 
humiliation. 

Dwell  then,  my  soul,  on  this  amazing 
scene  of  humiliation  and  sufferings  of  thy 
Lord  and  Redeemer,  to  imbibe  his  spirit  of 
humility  and  love.  Be  willing  to  humble 
thyself,  and  suffer  too,  when  necessary  for 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  thy  fellow 
Christians  and  fellow  men.  Pray  for  the 
grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  mould  thee  into 
the  blessed  likeness  of  thy  Saviour  God. 

PRAYER. 

How  profound  thy  humiliation,  0  my 
Redeemer  God!  Hadst  thou  been  pleased 
to^  assume  the  nature  of  an  archangel,  it 
would  have  claimed  the  admiration  and 
praise  of  all  holy  beings.    But,  by  assuming 


70  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

the  nature  of  fallen  man,  and  appearing  in 
the  form  of  a  servant,  for  our  salvation,  thou 
didst  submit  to  humihation  still  more  pro- 
found! I  bless  thee  that  thou  wast  willing 
to  lay  aside  the  robes  of  Godhead,  to  take 
human  nature  from  a  humble  virgin,  to  be 
born  in  a  stable,  and  laid  in  a  manger.  I 
praise  thee  for  every  step  in  thy  humiliation; 
that  thou  didst  willingly  subject  thyself  to 
the  law  of  man — to  live  in  poverty — to  incur 
the  opposition  of  the  Jewish  priests  and 
rulers — to  endure  reproach  and  reviling — to 
stand  in  judgment  at  the  bar  of  thy  crea- 
tures— to  submit  to  condemnation,  as  if  guilty 
of  blasphemy  and  sedition — and  to  bear  all 
the  agonies  and  tortures  connected  with 
the  shameful  death  of  crucifixion,  as  well  as 
the  more  overwhelming  sufferings  inflicted 
on  thy  soul  by  divine  justice,  in  expiation  of 
the  sins  of  thy  people ! 

May  I  ever  remember,  with  gratitude  and 
praise,  this  astonishing  humiliation ;  and, 
imbibing  thy  spirit,  manifest,  on  all  suitable 
occasions,  the  same  mind  that  prompted  thee, 
0  Saviour,  to  submit  to  humiliation  so  pro- 
found and  wonderful!    Amen. 


THE    HOLY    LIFE    OF    CHRIST.  71 


MEDITATION  IX. 


THE    HOLY    LIFE    OF    CHRIST. 

The  spotless  purity  of  the  Saviour  was  essen- 
tial to  his  office  and  work  as  Mediator.  Had 
his  human  nature  been  defiled  by  sin,  he 
could  not  have  yielded  that  perfect  obedience 
which  the  law  demanded;  nor  would  it  have 
received  the  high  honour  of  being  hypostati- 
cally  united  to  his  divine  nature.  That  his 
human  nature  was  perfectly  pure  from  every 
moral  stain,  the  sacred  Scriptures  bear  ample 
testimony.  "  Therefore  also,"  said  the  angel 
Gabriel  to  Mary,  "  that  holy  thing  which 
shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be  called  the  Son 
of  God."  Luke  i.  35.  At  his  baptism  a 
voice  came  from  heaven,  which  said,  "■  Thou 
art  my  beloved  Son;  in  thee  I  am  well 
pleased."  Luke  iii.  22.  And  again,  at  his 
transfiguration,  the  Father  testified  his  appro- 
bation of  him ;  "  This  is  my  beloved  Son  : 
hear  him."  Luke  ix.  35.  Appealing  to  his 
enemies,  Jesus  said,  "  Which  of  you  con- 
vinceth  me  of  sin?"  John  viii.  46.  And 
the  apostle,  "For  such  an  high  priest  be- 
came us,  who  is  holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
and  separated  from  sinners,  and  made  higher 
than  the  heavens ;  who  needed  not,  as  those 


72  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

high  priests,  to  offer  up  sacrifice,  first  for  his 
own  sins." 

Jesus  was  indeed  a  descendant  of  Adam; 
for  he  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  but  not 
in  the  ordinary  way.  He  was  conceived  in 
the  virgin's  womb,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  came  by  a  special  promise,  given 
after  the  apostasy  of  man;  and  not  being 
represented  by  Adam  in  the  covenant  of 
works,  he  Avas  not  at  all  affected  by  the 
violation  of  that  covenant,  and  could  not  be 
involved  in  its  consequences. 

What  matter  of  gratitude  and  praise,  to  be 
thus  divinely  assured  that  Christ  was  per- 
fectly qualified  for  the  work  he  undertook! 
Rejoice,  my  soul,  in  this  assurance,  and  let  it 
inspire  thee  with  unshaken  confidence  in 
him. 

Being  perfectly  pure  in  his  nature  at  his 
birth,  our  blessed  Redeemer  remained  so 
through  the  whole  of  his  course  on  earth.  In 
heart  and  life  he  was  perfectly  conformed  to 
the  divine  law.  The  law,  or  holiness,  was 
in  him  personified.  It  beamed  from  his  eyes, 
breathed  from  his  lips,  and  moved  in  all  his 
actions.  The  grand  comprehensive  princi- 
ples of  the  law  were  deeply  seated  in  his  holy 
soul.  He  loved  God  with  all  his  powers, 
and  his  neighbour  as  himself;  and  his  whole 
life  was  one  continued,  unbroken  stream  of 
love. 

His  love  to  his  Father  was  displayed  by 
his  steady,  uniform,  unwavering  and  perfect 
obedience  to  his  commandments.    "  I  came 


THE    HOLY    LIFE    OF    CHRIST.  73 

down  from  heaven,  not  to  do  mine  own  will, 
but  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me.'^  John  vi.  38. 
"  Bat  that  the  world  may  know  that  I  love 
the  Father;  and  as  the  Father  gave  me 
commandment,  even  so  I  do.  Arise,  let  us 
go  hence."  John  xiv.  31.  "I  have  glori- 
fied thee  on  the  earth;  I  have  finished  the 
work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do."  John 
xvii.  4. 

His  obedience  to  his  Father's  will  was 
ever  characterized  by  those  qualities  that 
render  obedience  truly  acceptable. 

Delight  was  one  characteristic.  In  view 
of  all  the  difficulties  and  suff'erings  to  be  en- 
countered and  endured,  he  could  truly  say, 
"  Lo,  I  come:  in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is 
written  of  me;  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  0  my 
God."    Ps.  xl.  7,  8. 

The  obedience  of  Christ  was  marked  by  a 
devotional  spirit.  He  felt  his  dependence  on 
God;  and,  therefore,  conversed  much  with 
him  by  prayer.  Before  the  choice  of  his 
apostles,  "  he  went  into  a  mountain  to  pray, 
and  continued  all  night  in  prayer  to  God." 
J^uke  vi.  12,  13.  And,  on  another  occasion, 
"  rising  up  a  great  while  before  day,  he  went 
out,  and  departed  into  a  solitary  place,  and 
there  prayed."  Mark  i.  35.  How  earnest 
were  his  prayers  in  the  garden  of  Gethse- 
mane !  "  Who  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,"  says 
the  apostle,  "  when  he  had  offered  up  prayers 
and  supplications,  with  strong  cries  and  tears 
unto  Him  that  was  able  to  save  him  from 
death,  and  was  heard  in  that  he  feared." 


74  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

Heb.  V.  7.  His  heart  was  continually  ascend- 
ing to  God  in  holy  aspirations,  and  held  high 
communion  with  him. 

How  fervent  was  the  Redeemer's  zeal  for 
his  Father's  honour!  When  but  twelve 
years  old,  he  manifested  his  zeal  by  remain- 
ing at  Jerusalem  after  the  departure  of  his 
parents,  "  sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  doctors, 
both  hearing  them  and  asking  them  ques- 
tions." And  to  his  mother's  question,  "  Son, 
why  hast  thou  thus  dealt  with  us?  behold, 
thy  father  and  I  have  sought  thee  sorrow- 
ing:"  he  replied,  "  How  is  it  that  ye  sought 
me?  wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my 
Father's  business  ? "  His  zeal  was  displayed 
in  refuting  the  corrupt  glosses  put  on  the  law 
of  God  by  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees;  in  con- 
demning the  unsound  traditions  of  the  elders; 
and  in  the  heavy  denunciations  of  divine 
judgments  against  the  false  teachers  in  the 
Jewish  church.  And  how  conspicuous  was 
it,  when  he  purified  the  temple,  by  expel Ung 
from  it  all  that  sold  and  bought  in  it!  Matt, 
xxi.  12,  13.  "The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath 
eaten  me  up." 

His  submission  to  the  divine  will  was  pre- 
eminent. How  cheerfully  did  he  lead  a  life 
of  obscurity  and  poverty !  Thrice  in  the 
garden,  where  he  agonized,  he  said,  "  0  my 
Father,  if  this  cup  may  not  pass  away  from 
me,  except  I  drink  it,  thy  will  be  done." 
Matt.  xxvi.  39-41. 

Trust  in  God  never  forsook  him.  Even 
in  that  tremendous  hour  of  overwhelming 


THE    HOLY    LIFE    OF    CHRIST.  75 

suffering,  when  preternatural  darkness  cover- 
ed the  earth,  when  all  the  powers  of  hell  as- 
sailed him  on  the  cross,  and  his  Father  left 
him  to  feel  all  the  horrors  of  the  curse  of  a 
broken  law,  he  could  still  say  "  My  God,  my 
God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?"  Matt. 
xxvii.  46;  and  closed  the  awful  scene,  by 
crying  with  a  loud  voice,  "Father,  into  thy 
hands  I  commend  my  spirit."  Luke  xxiii.  46. 
As  the  love  of  Christ  to  God,  so  his  bene- 
volence to  man  was  displayed  through  his 
whole  life.  With  what  diligence  did  he  pro- 
secute his  work  of  teaching.  Pressed  by  the 
multitudes  attending  his  ministry,  he  at  times 
could  hardly  find  leisure  to  eat.  When  the 
people  were  in  danger  of  fainting  for  want  of 
food,  he  fed  them  in  a  miraculous  manner. 
He  bore  with  the  dulness,  infirmities  and  un- 
belief of  his  apostles.  "  He  went  about  doing 
good."  He  healed  all  manner  of  diseases; 
rejected  none  that  sought  his  aid ;  and  wel- 
comed all  that  applied  to  him  for  salvation. 
He  wept  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus.  He  pitied 
his  enemies.  In  view  of  the  miseries  that 
were  coming  upon  the  wicked  city  that  had 
rejected  him,  how  melting  the  strains  of  pity 
he  uttered !  "  0  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thou 
that  killest  the  prophets,  and  stonest  them 
which  are  sent  unto  thee,  how  often  would 
I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even 
as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her 
wings,  and  ye  would  not!"  For  his  ene- 
mies who  crucified  him,  he  prayed,  "  Father, 
forgive  themj  for  they  know  not  what  they 


76  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

do."  Luke  xxiii.  34.  And  to  the  penitent 
thief  on  the  cross,  who  had  reviled  him,  he 
gave  the  assurance,  "Verily  I  say  unto  thee, 
To-day  shalt  tiiou  be  with  me  in  paradise." 
Luke  xxiii.  43. 

May  the  benevolence  of  Christ  fill  my  soul, 
and  prompt  me  to  every  good  deed  and  act 
of  kindness ! 

So  signal,  finished,  and  sinless  was  the 
Saviour's  obedience  to  the  divine  law !  The 
development  of  his  love  to  God  and  man  so 
complete  and  attractive !  And  in  rendering 
his  obedience  he  rose  above  every  difficulty, 
triumphed  over  all  opposition,  and  contemned 
every  adverse  allurement.  The  devil  assail- 
ed him  at  the  commencement  of  his  public 
life,  with  all  his  cunning  and  power;  but  in 
vain.  In  vain  he  spread  before  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  their  glory, 
promising  to  give  them  all  to  him,  if  he 
Avould  worship  him.  "  Get  thee  behind  me, 
Satan,"  replied  the  indignant  Redeemer:  "for 
it  is  written,  Thou  shalt  worship  the  Lord 
thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt  thou  serve." 
Luke  iv.  5-S.  The  world  had  no  power 
over  him.  He  was  alike  superior  to  its 
smiles  and  frowns,  to  its  rewards  and  terrors. 
When  he  saw  that  the  people  were  disposed 
to  take  him  by  force  and  make  him  a  king, 
he  retired  from  them  and  concealed  himself. 
The  world  could  crucify,  but  it  could  not 
subdue  him.  There  was  a  joy  set  before 
him,  a  joy  springing  from  the  glory  of  God, 
in  the  redemption  of  a  fallen  world,  and  his 


THE    HOLT    LIFE    OF    CHRIST.  77 

own  future  exaltation,  that  enabled  him  to 
endure  the  cross  and  despise  its  shame. 
Heb.  xii.  2. 

What  a  perfect  example  I  behold  in  the 
holy  and  sinless  life  of  my  Redeemer  !  The 
lives  of  patriarchs  and  pious  kings,  of  holy 
prophets  and  apostles,  are  set  before  me, 
that  I  may  copy  their  examples.  They  are 
worthy  of  my  assiduous  imitation.  Let  it, 
however,  be  remembered  that  not  one  was 
faultless.  But,  in  the  life  of  my  blessed 
Redeemer,  I  see  an  example  perfect  and 
fauldess.  To  this,  then,  my  soul,  look;  and 
by  a  reference  to  it,  correct  whatever  was 
wrong  in  the  lives  of  ancient  saints  and 
apostles. 


PRAYER. 

Most  holy  and  merciful  Saviour,  when  I 
contemplate  the  spotless  purity  of  thy  nature, 
and  thy  perfect  and  illustrious  example,  how 
much  reason  I  find  for  deep  abasement  be- 
fore God,  and  penitence,  on  account  of  the 
depravity  of  my  nature,  and  the  sins  of  my 
life !  0 !  may  thy  example  be  ever  before 
my  eyes !  Afford  me  grace  that  I  may  copy 
after  it.  May  I  imbibe  thy  spirit  and  tread 
in  thy  steps,  and  become  daily  more  and 
more  conformed  to  thy  image!  0!  when 
shall  love  to  God  and  man,  like  thine,  possess 
my  whole  soul,  and  control  all  its  feelings, 
desires,  and  emotions!  and  my  obedience, 
flowing  from  a  spring  so  pure,  become  what 
7 


78  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

it  ought  to  be,  blameless!  While  passing 
through  this  vain  and  siuful  world,  may  it  be 
my  constant  prayer  and  endeavour  to  walk 
in  that  bright  path  of  purity,  love,  benevo- 
lence, and  obedience,  which  thou  didst  tread, 
till,  at  the  end  of  life,  being  freed  from  all  sni 
and  every  stain,  I  shall  become  entirely  like 
to  thee,  my  Saviour;  and  see  thee  as  thou 
art,  in  all  thy  purity  and  infinite  glory. 
Grant  this  I  beseech  thee,  for  thy  name's 
sake.     Amen. 


MEDITATION  X. 


THE    SUFFERINGS    AND    DEATH    OP    CHRIST. 

In  preparing  for  the  holy  supper,  I  must 
especially  remember  the  sufferings  and  the 
death  of  my  blessed  Lord.  It  is  his  broken 
body  and  his  shed  blood  he  puts  into  my 
hands  at  the  sacred  feast,  and  bids  me  eat  the 
one  and  drink  the  other.  And  can  I  take  the 
symbols,  and  thus  eat  and  drink,  without 
remembering  what  they  significantly  shadow 
forth,  his  amazing  sufi'erings,  and  bhter  and 
shameful  death?  No;  I  must  dwell  upon 
this  astonishing  scene,  the  sufferings  of  an 
incarnate  God. 

And  what  were  the  sufferings  of  my  Re- 


SUFFERINGS  AND  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.        /9 

deemer!  Ah!  what  tongue  can  tell,  what 
mmd  conceive,  what  he  endured  in  expi- 
ating our  sins,  and  working  out  our  re- 
demption? Divine  justice  alone  can  mea- 
sure them.  But  let  me  endeavour  to  form 
some  conception  of  their  greatness  and 
variety. 

They  began  with  his  life,  and  continued 
till  its  close.  Heaven,  earth,  and  hell  com- 
bined to  afflict  him.  It  pleased  his  Father 
to  bruise,  and  to  put  him  to  grief,  and  to 
make  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin.  Devils 
assailed  him  with  their  infernal  temptations, 
especially  in  the  wilderness,  and  on  the  cross, 
to  shake  his  firmness,  and  to  defeat  his  glo- 
rious purpose.  Jews  and  Gentiles  united  to 
insult,  degrade,  and  torment  him. 

He  suffered  from  poverty.  He  was  so 
poor  that  he  was  dependent  for  subsistence 
on  the  charity  of  others:  and  to  mark  the 
depth  of  his  poverty,  he  once  said,  "foxes 
have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have 
nests ;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where 
to  lay  his  head." 

He  suffered  from  intercourse  with  sinful 
men.  Loving  God  supremely,  devoted  to 
his  glory,  and  perfectly  free  from  sin,  how 
painful  to  his  holy  soul,  must  it  have  been  to 
see  the  abounding  wickedness  of  men  around 
him;  all  going  astray,  all  neglecting  God, 
breaking  his  commandments,  and  dishonour- 
ing, instead  of  glorifying,  his  great  name! 
If  the  soul  of  righteous  Lot  was  daily  vexed 
with  the  unlawful  deeds  of  the  inhabitants  of 


80  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

Sodom,  how  painful  must  have  been  the 
feelings  of  the  Redeemer,  in  witnessing  the 
wickedness  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
and  of  Judea! 

He  suffered  from  being  rejected  by  the 
Jews.  "He  came  unto  his  own;  and  his 
own  received  him  not.''  By  his  holy  hfe, 
by  his  heavenly  doctrines,  and  by  his  aston- 
ishing miracles,  he  proved  himself  to  be  the 
long  promised  Messiah;  bat  his  claims  were 
denied  by  the  chief  priests,  by  the  Scribes, 
Pharisees  and  rulers.  They  stigmatized  him 
as  an  impostor,  instead  of  hailing  him  as  their 
Lord  and  Redeemer. 

He  suffered  in  his  reputation.  Because 
he  conformed  in  his  living  to  prevailing  cus- 
tom, he  was  called  a  wine  bibber  and  a 
glutton.  Mixing  with  all  classes  of  men  for 
their  instruction,  benefit,  reformation,  and 
salvation,  he  was  reproached  as  the  friend  of 
publicans  and  sinners. 

He  was  sold  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  and 
betrayed  into  the  hands  of  the  chief  priests, 
by  a  kiss  from  Judas,  the  traitorous  disciple. 

And  now,  my  soul,  behold  thy  Lord  and 
Saviour  rudely  seized  and  bound  by  ruffian 
soldiers,  and  led  by  them  to  the  palace  of  the 
high  priest.  There,  with  what  cruel  indig- 
nity is  he  treated!  He  is  mocked,  smitten 
on  the  face,  and  spit  upon.  He  is  blind-fold- 
ed, and  then  asked  to  tell  who  smote  him. 
False  witnesses  testify  against  him.  Adj  ured 
by  the  high  priest,  he  affirms  himself  to  be 


SUFFERINGS  AND  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.       81 

the  Son  of  God;  and  immediately  the  council 
condemn  him  as  deserving  death. 

Deprived  of  the  power  of  executing  the 
sentence  of  death,  they  hurry  him  to  Pilate 
the  Roman  governor;  and  before  his  tribunal, 
accusing  him  as  a  blasphemer,  and  as  a 
seditious  person,  demand  his  death.  Pilate 
sends  him  to  Herod  the  king.  He  and  his 
soldiers  mock  and  insult  him,  and  then  send 
him  back  again  to  Pilate.  Convinced  of  his 
innocence,  the  Roman  governor  seeks  to 
deliver  him.  Persuaded  by  the  priests,  a 
fickle  people,  who  had  a  little  before  admired 
Jesus,  prefer  to  him  for  release  Barabbas,  a 
robber  and  murderer.  Pilate  overcome  l3y 
the  importunity  of  the  chief  priests  and  the 
clamorous  demands  of  the  multitude,  cow- 
ardly yields  to  their  wishes. 

What  a  scene  now  ensues!  The  blessed 
Jesus  is  scourged,  and  then  led  by  the 
soldiers  into  the  common  hall,  and  the  whole 
band  collected  around  him  to  participate  in 
his  sufferings.  They  strip  off  his  own  rai- 
ment, and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe. 
Having  put  on  his  head  a  plaited  crown  of 
thorns,  and  a  reed  in  his  right  hand,  they 
bow  the  knee  before  him,  and  mock  him, 
saying.  Hail,  king  of  the  Jews.  They  spit 
upon  him;  and  taking  the  reed  out  of  his 
hand,  they  smite  him  on  the  head.  Tired 
with  their  mockery  and  insults,  they  take  off' 
the  scarlet  robe,  and  put  on  him  his  own  rai- 
ment, and  lead  him  away  to  crucify  him. 


82  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

Behold  him,  my  soul,  walking,  with  pain- 
ful steps,  to  mount  Calvary,  to  be  crucified. 
See  him  nailed  to  the  cross,  and  then  lifted 
up  on  it,  that  it  may  be  thrust  violently  into 
the  hole  prepared  for  it;  by  which  shock 
every  joint  of  his  sacred  body  is  dislocated. 
Behold  the  innocent  Lamb  of  God  between 
two  crucified  malefactors,  as  if  the  most 
deserving  of  death.  They  that  passed  by 
revile  him,  wagging  their  heads,  and  saying, 
<'Thou  that  destroyest  the  temple,  and  build- 
est  it  in  three  days,  save  thyself.  If  thou  be 
the  Son  of  God,  come  down  from  the  cross." 
Hear  the  malignant  mocking  of  the  chief 
priests,  the  scribes  and  elders:  "He  saved 
others,  himself,  he  cannot  save.  If  he  be  the 
King  of  Israel,  let  him  now  come  down  from 
the  cross,  and  we  will  believe  him.  He 
trusted  in  God;  let  him  deliver  him  now,  if 
he  will  have  him :  for  he  said,  I  am  the  Son 
of  God." 

These  outward  insults,  these  torments 
inflicted  on  his  body,  I  am  to  consider  and 
remember;  but  especially  am  I  to  contem- 
plate what  was  far  more  overwhelming,  the 
sorrows  of  his  soul.  The  former  he  bore  in 
silence;  but  the  latter  drew  from  him  the 
complaints  in  the  garden,  and  the  bitter  cry 
on  the  cross. 

But,  how  shall  I  form  a  conception  of  the 
agonies  of  my  Saviour's  soul,  while  bearing 
our  sins?  In  Gethsemane,  there  was  no 
external  cause  of  pain,  no  enemy  seizing  him, 
n,o  injury  done  to  his  body.     Yet  I  see  hiai 


SUFFERINGS  AND  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.       83 

sore  amazed  and  very  heavy,  prostrate  on 
the  ground,  and  earnestly  pouring  out  his 
supplications  to  his  Father,  saying  "It'  it  be 
possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me:''  and 
saying  to  his  disciples,  '-My  soul  is  exceed- 
ingly sorrowful,  even  unto  death:  tarry  ye 
here,  and  watch  with  me."  What  produced 
this  mental  agony,  which  was  so  great  as  to 
force  the  blood  through  the  pores  of  his  skin, 
falling  on  the  ground?  Not  the  fear  of  the 
Jews,  not  the  terror  of  the  Roman  sword. 
At  these  he  did  not  tremble.  He  met  them 
with  undisturbed  self-possession. 

What  then,  my  soul,  were  the  causes  of 
this  mysterious  agony?  Ah!  it  was  a  sense 
of  the  infinite  evil  of  sin,  which  he  was  to 
bear — an  apprehension  of  the  wrath  of  God 
which  he  was  to  feel  in  his  soul — a  sight  of 
the  fearful  curse  of  the  law  which  was  to  be 
poured  out  upon  him.  These,  and  not  the 
fear  of  what  man  could  inflict  on  his  body, 
were  the  causes  of  his  mysterious  and  over- 
whelming mental  agonies,  m  the  garden  of 
Gethsemane. 

This  may  help  me  to  form  some  conception 
of  what  my  Saviour  endured,  during  the  three 
hours  of  preternatural  darkness  that  con- 
cealed him  from  mortal  view,  while  hanging 
on  the  cross,  and  when  God  emphatically 
made  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,  by 
hiding  his  face  from  him,  withdrawing  from 
him  a  comforting  sense  of  his  approbation 
and  love,  and  pouring  out  upon  his  soul  un- 
mingled  wrath.     It  was  this  that  extorted 


84  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

from  him  the  doleful  cry,  ^'My  God,  my  God, 
why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?" 

And  now  recollectmg,  that  my  blessed  Re- 
deemer, in  making  expiation  for  the  sms  of 
the  world,  was  enduring  in  a  few  hours,  suf- 
ferings that,  measured  by  divine  justice,  were 
to  be  a  full  equivalent  for  the  everlasting  tor- 
ments of  all  who  shall  be  saved,  by  believing 
on  him,  I  may  form  some  feeble  conception 
of  the  immensity  of  his  sufferings;  and  see 
that  he  endured  what  none  but  God  could 
mflict,  and  none  but  God  could  sustain. 

Having  borne  all  these  overwhelming 
agonies,  my  Saviour  said,  ^^It  is  finished," 
and  yielded  up  his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his 
Father. 

He  died,  was  taken  down  from  the  cross, 
was  buried,  and  remained  in  the  grave  part 
of  three  days. 

PRAYER. 

0  my  dear  Redeemer,  didst  thou  endure 
all  these  great  and  overwhelming  sufferings 
for  me !  How  wonderful  thy  love !  What 
gratitude !  what  returns  of  love  are  due  to 
thee !  How  should  I  be  constrained  to  live 
for  thee,  who  didst  die,  and  revive,  and  rise 
again,  that  thou  mightest  be  Lord  both  of  the 
dead  and  the  living!  How  joyfully  should  I 
do  any  service  appointed,  and  patiently  bear 
any  suffering  to  which  thou  mayest  call  me ! 
0  for  grace  thus  to  act,  and  thus  to  suffer ! 

In  the  light  of  thy  cross  may  I  see  the  hor- 


THE    EVIL    OF    SIN.  85 

rible  nature  of  sin,  and  hate  it  with  a  perfect 
hatred.  Give  me  to  feel  the  virtue  of  thy 
death,  that  I  may  die  daily  unto  sin,  and  live 
unto  righteousness.  Thou  gavest  thyself  for 
us,  to  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify 
unto  thyself  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of 
good  works.  Oh!  let  thy  benevolent  and 
holy  design  be  accomplished  in  me.  Let  me 
be  redeemed  from  all  iniquity;  and,  by  thy 
renewing  grace,  may  I  be  so  quickened  as  to 
become  zealous  of  good  works.  Crucify  all 
my  sinful  passions  and  evil  propensities;  and 
animate  and  strengthen  every  grace  and 
virtue  imparted  to  me  by  thy  Holy  Spirit. 
Hear  and  grant,  0  my  Saviour,  these  requests, 
for  thy  name's  sake.    Amen. 


MEDITATION    XI. 

THE    EVIL    OF    SIN. 

Nowhere  is  the  infinite  evil  of  sin  seen  so 
clearly  and  impressively,  as  in  the  light  of  the 
Redeemer's  cross.  There  its  hateful  nature 
and  ill-desert  are  displayed  by  the  most  con- 
vincing evidence. 

By  reflecting  on  the  infinite  Majesty  of  the 
Lawgiver,  who  is  insulted  by  sin,  and  con- 
sidering the  excellence  of  the  law,  which  it 
8 


86  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

violates,  its  evil  clearly  appears.  The  law  is 
good;  it  corresponds  with  the  relations  we 
sustain;  it  was  designed  to  promote  our  hap- 
piness; and  obedience  to  its  requirements  is 
enforced  by  infinite  authority,  and  by  awful 
sanctions:  so  that  the  violation  of  it  involves 
the  most  daring  presumption  and  basest  in- 
gratitude, as  well  as  the  most  foolish  disre- 
gard to  our  own  happiness. 

Its  ruinous  nature  soon  became  apparent. 
No  sooner  had  our  first  parents  eaten  of  the 
forbidden  fruit,  than  the  degrading  passion  of 
shame  began  to  work  in  their  bosoms.  They 
saw  their  nakedness,  and  made  aprons  of  fig 
leaves  sewed  together,  to  hide  it  from  their 
eyes.  The  voice  of  God  had  before  been 
music  to  their  ears,  and  they  rejoiced  to  meet 
Him;  but  now,  feeling  the  guilt  of  sin,  they 
trembled  at  the  sound  of  that  voice,  and 
vainly  tried  "to  hide  themselves  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  God  among  the  trees 
of  the  garden." 

Arraigned  before  the  bar  of  their  offended 
Creator,  sentence  of  death  is  pronounced  on 
the  guilty  pair.  The  sorrows  of  the  woman 
are  multiplied;  the  ground  is  cursed;  man 
must  eat  its  fruits  in  sorrow,  and  in  the  sweat 
of  his  brow,  till  he  return  to  his  native  dust. 
They  are  expelled  from  the  garden  of  Eden; 
and  man  is  doomed  to  till  the  ground,  now 
rendered  sterile  by  the  curse.  Such  were  the 
immediate  consequences  of  sin! 

How  soon  the  destructive  nature  of  sin 


THE    EVIL    OP    SIN.  87 

appeared!  Cain,  prompted  by  this  malignant 
evil,  rose  up  against  his  righteous  brother,  who 
loved  him  and  had  done  him  no  harm,  and 
slew  him;  because  God  was  pleased  to  show 
him  tokens  of  his  favour,  which  were  with- 
held from  Cain,  on  account  of  his  disobe- 
dience in  not  complying  with  the  prescribed 
worship.  As  men  multiplied  on  the  face  of 
the  earth,  wickedness  increased,  and  the  evil 
nature  of  sin  became  more  sadly  apparent  in 
divisions,  contentions,  strife,  war,  and  blood- 
shed; so  that  God  was  provoked  to  express 
his  abhorrence  of  it,  by  sweeping  away  the 
whole  human  race  from  the  face  of  the  earth, 
by  a  universal  deluge ;  sparing  only  one 
family  to  reproduce  the  species,  and  re- 
people  the  earth  with  inhabitants. 

The  great  folly  of  sin  may  be  seen  in  the 
conduct  of  Noah's  descendants,  who,  to  pre- 
vent their  dispersion  over  the  earth,  resolved 
to  build  a  city  and  a  tower  whose  top  was  to 
reach  unto  heaven.  How  vain  the  design! 
God  had  purposed  their  dispersion;  and,  to 
counteract  their  design,  he  confounded  their 
language ;  so  that  they  only  who  spake  the 
same  language  could  understand  each  other. 
Thus  were  they  compelled  to  desist  from 
their  enterprise,  and  to  separate  into  distinct 
bodies,  and  dwell  in  different  regions. 

How  degrading  and  polluting  sin  is  seen 
to  be  in  the  beastly  and  unnatural  practices 
of  the  people  of  Sodom;  and  God's  abhor- 
rence of  it  in  the  fire  that  was  sent  down  from 
heaven  upon  that  guilty  city,  and  its  neigh- 


88  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

bour  city,  Gomorrah,  to  consume  them  on 
account  of  their  great  wickedness ! 

The  history  of  innumerable  wars  that  have 
occurred  between  different  tribes  and  nations 
of  men ;  the  desolation  of  fruitful  fields,  the 
burning  of  towns  and  cities,  the  murdering  of 
their  inhabitants;  prevailing  famines  and  pes- 
tilences; and  the  torrents  of, human  blood 
that  have  been  shed,  all  proclaim  the  destruc- 
tive nature  of  sin,  and  the  wrath  of  God 
against  it.  The  vast  variety  of  diseases,  and 
the  torturing  nature  of  some,  to  which  hu- 
manity is  subject,  attest  too  the  evil  of  sin, 
which  has  given  them  birth. 

The  reign  of  death,  that  king  of  terrors, 
who  has  swept  away  from  the  earth  all  past 
generations  of  men,  is  sweeping  away  this 
generation,  and  will  sweep  away  all  succeed- 
ing generations,  till  the  end  of  the  world,  is  a 
standing  evidence  of  the  exceeding  evil  and 
ill-desert  of  sin  ;  for  his  sceptre  was  received 
from  sin,  and  his  destructive  empire,  founded 
on  man's  apostasy  from  his  God. 

I  stand  at  the  mouth  of  the  tomb.  I  think 
of  the  innumerable  millions  of  the  human 
race  who  he  down  in  the  mansions  of  the 
dead ;  all  reduced  to  dust  and  ashes,  to  one 
common  ruin.  I  anticipate  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. I  see  all  who  forgat  God  arraigned 
before  his  awful  tribunal,  trembling  at  his 
frowns  and  expected  sentence  of  condemna- 
tion. I  hear  the  terrible  words,  "  Depart 
from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire,  pre- 
pared for  the  devil  and  his  angels.'^    I  see 


THE    EVIL    OP    SIN.  89 

them  sinking  down  to  the  prison  of  hell,  and 
plunging  into  the  lake  that  burneth  with  fire 
and  brimstone,  to  be  tormented  for  ever  and 
ever.  What  a  frightful  evil  is  sin,  which 
has  caused  all  this  ruin  and  misery ! 

But,  when  I  turn  to  the  cross,  and  behold 
an  incarnate  God,  bleeding,  suffering,  agoni- 
zing, and  dying  for  the  sins  of  his  rebellious 
creatures,  I  gain  a  more  impressive  view  of 
the  horrible  evil  of  sin.  Elsewhere  I  see  the 
creature  suffering;  but  here  I  see  the  Crea- 
tor, in  human  nature,  suffering.  There  God 
pours  out  his  wrath  upon  rebellious  men, 
upon  his  enemies;  here  he  pours  out  his 
wrath  upon  his  innocent  and  well  beloved 
Son.  What  impenitent  sinner,  who  looks  at 
this  amazing  spectacle,  can  hope  to  escape 
merited  punishment  ?  How  detestable  is  sin ! 
How  should  it  be  shunned  as  the  greatest  of 
all  evils ! 

But,  0  my  soul,  when  I  consider  that  my 
Saviour  suffered  for  me;  that  his  sacred 
head  was  crowned  with  thorns,  his  body 
scourged ;  his  hands  and  feet  torn  with  rug- 
ged nails;  his  side  pierced  with  the  soldier's 
spear;  and  his  holy  soul  consumed  in  the 
fires  of  divine  justice  for  my  sins,  how 
should  I  hate  these  murderers  of  my  Lord ! 
how  should  my  heart  break  and  melt  into 
penitence  and  love ! 

Let  me  keep  near  to  the  cross  that  I  may 
feel  its  purifying  influence.  There  I  find 
that  fountain  opened  for  sin  and  all  unclean- 
ness.     There  may  I  wash  my  soul  in   the 


90  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

Saviour's  blood,  to  cleanse  me  both  from  the 
guilt  and  pollution  of  sin.  He  "gave  himself 
for  us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from,  all 
iniquity,  and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works."  Tit.  ii.  14. 
With  the  apostle  I  may  say,  "I  am  crucified 
with  Christ.''  Gal.  ii.  20.  United  to  him  I 
have  an  interest  in  his  death  and  in  all  its 
benefits.  He  died  for  me,  that  I  might  die 
imto  sin,  and  live  unto  God.  Let  me  then 
seek  to  feel  both  the  moral  and  spiritual  in- 
fluence that  issues  from  my  Redeemer's  cross. 
From  that  sacred  source,  may  I  derive  the 
strongest  motives  to  hate  sin,  and  seek  holi- 
ness. Did  he  suffer  so  much  on  account  of 
my  sins?  Then  must  I  hate  them  and  cruci- 
fy them.  Has  he  bought  salvation  for  me  ? 
Then  what  gratitude  do  I  owe  to  him,  and 
how  should  it  constrain  me  to  live  to  him 
who  died  for  me?  Did  he  love  me,  so  as  to 
give  himself  to  the  death  of  the  cross?  How 
then  should  I  love  him,  and  give  myself  to 
him;  by  yielding  my  body  a  living  sacrifice, 
holy,  and  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  my 
reasonable  service;  and  my  soul,  by  being 
transformed  by  the  renewing  of  my  mind, 
that  I  may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and 
acceptable  and  perfect  will  of  God!  Rom. 
xii.  1,  2. 

And  from  the  cross  let  me  derive  a  spiri- 
tual influence  to  impart  vitality,  vigour  and 
efficiency  to  all  my  motives.  The  Holy  Spirit 
comes  to  man  in  consequence  of  the  death  of 
Christ;  and  to  honour  his  death,  when  glori- 


PRArER.  91 

fied,  he  was  shed  down  in  so  large  a  measure 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  Let  me,  then,  seek 
from  my  crucified  Lord  and  Saviour  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  carry  on  that  gracious 
work,  which,  1  trust,  he  has  begun  in  my 
heart.  Let  me  pray  for  him,  as  my  teacher, 
my  sanctifier,  my  comforter;  and  as  the  Spirit 
of  adoption,  to  bear  witness  with  my  spirit, 
that  I  am  a  child  of  God,  and  to  seal  me 
unto  the  day  of  redemption.  Under  his  bles- 
sed influence  I  shall  grow  in  grace,  in  piety, 
and  in  meetness  for  heaven. 


PRAYER. 

Gracious  God,  grant  thy  blessing  to  this 
meditation  on  the  evil  of  sin.  Fill  my  soul 
with  a  growing  hatred  of  it,  and  grant  that  I 
may  feel  more  and  more  the  influence  of  the 
Redeemer's  cross,  in  crucifying  my  sins,  and 
delivering  me  from  their  power.  Make  me 
holy,  as  thou  art  holy,  that  I  may  see  thee  in 
thy  kingdom  above.  I  beseech  thee  to  hear 
me,  for  Christ's  sake.     Amen. 


92  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

MEDITATION  XII. 

THE    RESURRECTION    OF    CHRIST. 

The  Resurrection  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  is 
an  essential  article  of  the  Christian  faith.  It 
was  as  necessary  to  our  justification,  as  his 
death  was  to  atone  for  our  sins.  Speaking 
of  him  the  apostle  says,  "  who  was  delivered 
for  our  offences,  and  was  raised  again  for  our 
justification."  Rom.  iv.  25.  Had  he  not 
risen,  it  would  have  proved  his  work  to  be 
incomplete;  and  our  salvation  would  have 
failed. 

The  truth  of  his  claims  to  be  the  Son  of 
God  he  himself  placed  upon  his  rising  from 
the  dead.  "What  sign  showest  thou  unto 
us,"  said  the  Jews,  "seeing  that  thou  doest 
these  things?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
them,  Destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days 
I  will  raise  it  up.  But  he  spake  of  the  tem- 
ple of  his  body."  John  ii.  18-21.  His  resur- 
rection then  was  conclusive  proof  that  he 
was,  what  he  claimed  to  be,  the  Son  of  God, 
the  promised  Messiah,  and  the  Saviour  of 
the  world.  Had  he  been  an  impostor  he 
certainly  could  not  have  raised  himself  from 
the  dead;  nor  would  God  have  raised  him  to 
life  again,  and  lent  the  seal  of  heaven  to  con- 
firm an   imposition  on  the  world.    By  his 


THE    RESURRECTION    OP    CHRIST.  93 

resurrection  from  the  dead  he  was  declared 
to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power.  Rom. 
i.  4. 

The  importance  of  this  article  of  our  faith, 
the  apostle  Paul  has  clearly  set  forth.  "  Now 
if  Christ  be  preached  that  he  rose  from  the 
dead,  how  say  some  among  you  that  there  is 
no  resurrection  from  the  dead?  But  if  there 
be  no  resurrection  of  the  dead,  the,n  is  not 
Christ  risen:  and  if  Christ  be  not  risen,  then 
is  our  preaching  vain,  and  your  faith  is  also 
vain.  Yea,  and  we  are  found  false  witnesses 
of  God;  because  we  have  testified  of  God  that 
he  raised  up  Christ,  whom  he  raised  not  up, 
if  so  be  that  the  dead  rise  not.  For  if  the 
dead  rise  not,  then  is  not  Christ  raised:  and 
if  Christ  be  not  raised,  your  faith  is  vain ;  ye 
are  yet  in  your  sins.  Then  they  also  which 
are  fallen  asleep  in  Christ  are  perished.  If 
in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we 
are  of  all  men  most  miserable.  But  now  is 
Christ  risen  from  the  dead,  and  become  the 
first  fruits  of  them  that  slept.  For  since  by 
man  came  death,  by  man  came  also  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam 
all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made 
alive.  But  every  man  in  his  own  order: 
Christ  the  first  fruits;  afterward  they  that  are 
Christ's  at  his  coming.''     1  Cor.  xv.  12-23. 

How  thankful  should  we  be,  that  such 
abundant  evidence  is  afforded  to  establish 
our  faith  in  this  fundamental  article  of  our 
holy  religion !  This  great  fact,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ,  was  every  where  pro^ 


94  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

claimed  by  the  apostles.  It  was  so  interwo- 
ven withthe  gospel,  and  lay  so  at  the  founda- 
tion of  our  hopes,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
preach  the  gospel,  without  affirming  the  Sa- 
viour's resurrection  from  the  dead.  And  had 
we  no  other  evidence  of  the  fact,  than  the 
uniform  and  constant  testimony  of  twelve 
apostles,  it  would  be  sufficient  to  establish 
our  faith  in  this  great  and  fundamental  truth; 
for  they  were  commissioned  by  God  to 
preach,  and  they  proved  their  commission, 
by  numerous  and  indubitable  miracles,  which 
they  wrought  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 

But,  in  addition  to  their  testimony,  we  are 
told  how  they  became  convinced  that  their 
Lord  and  Master  was  alive  from  the  d^ad. 
The  evidence  of  the  fact  presented  to  them 
was  perfect  and  infallible.  The  Redeemer 
appeared  to  them,  after  his  resurreclion,  at 
sundry  times,  and  in  different  ways;  so  that 
they  had  afforded  to  them  every  method  for 
identifying  his  risen  body  with  the  body  in 
which  he  had  lived,  and  had  been  crucified, 
while  on  the  earth.  They  saw  him;  they 
heard  him  speak ;  they  conversed  with  him ; 
they  ate  with  him;  they  saw  the  prints  of 
the  nails  in  his  hands  and  feet,  and  beheld  in 
his  side  where  he  had  been  pierced  with  the 
soldier's  spear.  The  evidence  presented  was 
irresistible.  They  all  became  convinced  that 
their  Lord  and  Master  was  indeed  risen  from 
the  dead.  Every  doubt  was  expelled  from 
their  minds.  And  of  the  sincerity  of  their 
conviction  and  belief  of  this  great  fact,  they 


THE    RESURRECTION    OF    CHRIST.  95 

gave  to  the  world  indubitable  evidence,  by 
testifying  to  the  fact  in  the  face  of  all  opposi- 
tion, reproach,  threatenings,  persecution,  im- 
prisonment, and  sufferings ;  and,  finally,  by 
sealing  their  testimony  with  their  blood. 

What  testimony  can  equal  this  ?  The  wit- 
nesses were  competent,  credible,  and  nume- 
rous. The  matter  of  their  testimony  was  the 
truth  of  a  fact,  presented  to  their  senses; 
which  they  had  repeated  opportunities  for 
examining  in  the  most  deliberate  manner. 
They  could  not  be  deceived  or  mistaken  in 
their  own  belief;  and  they  have  given  the 
most  ample  proof  that,  in  dehvering  their 
testimony  to  the  world,  they  gjined  at  the 
glory  of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  men. 

What  an  evidence  of  his  resurrection  was 
presented  by  our  Lord  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost! Behold,  the  Spirit  descends  from 
heaven,  and  fiery  cloven  tongues  are  seen 
upon  the  heads  of  his  disciples.  They  are 
filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  begin  to 
speak  with  other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gives 
them  utterance.  What  a  sudden  change  is 
wrought  in  the  apostles!  With  what  bold- 
ness are  they  inspired !  They  had  concealed 
themselves  before,  but  now  they  speak  pub- 
licly with  the  utmost  boldness;  testifying  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  charging 
upon  the  Jews  the  crime  of  having  crucified 
and  slain  him !  How  powerful  their  preach- 
ing! Three  thousand  are  converted,  and 
added  by  baptism  to  the  church,  on  that 
memorable  day ! 


96  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

And  what  a  conclusive  proof  of  this  great 
fact  is  seen  in  the  conversion  of  Saul  of  Tar- 
sus !  He  was  a  bitter  persecutor  of  the 
church,  and  a  most  determined  enemy  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Not  satisfied  with  the  evils  he 
had  brought  on  the  saints  at  Jerusalem,  he 
determines  to  extend  his  ravages  to  strange 
cities.  Commissioned  by  the  high  priest,  he 
goes  to  Damascus  to  persecute  them  there; 
and  while  on  the  road,  "breathing  out  threat- 
enings  and  slaughter  against  the  disciples  of 
the  Lord,"  he  is  prostrated  to  the  ground,  by 
a  light  from  heaven  thrown  around  him, 
brighter  than  the  noon-day  sun.  Such  over- 
powering evidence  is  impressed  on  his  mind, 
that  he  becomes  convinced  at  once  that  he 
who  speaks  to  him  from  heaven,  is  Jesus 
Christ,  whom  he  was  persecuting.  He  is  in 
a  few  days  converted  and  baptized.  He 
begins  to  preach  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Saviour 
of  the  world,  and  the  Lord  of  glory.  And 
ever  after  he  labours  in  his  service  with 
ardent  love,  untiring  zeal,  and  unshaken  con- 
stancy; and  then  offers  himself  as  a  sacrifice 
to  his  Lord,  who  loved  him,  and  gave  him- 
self for  him. 

With  what  confidence  may  I  rest  in  the 
assured  faith,  that  my  Lord  and  Redeemer, 
who  was  crucified  for  my  sins,  arose  from 
the  dead  on  the  third  day;  and  in  seeing  the 
seal  of  heaven  thus  set  to  the  perfection  of 
his  great  work,  as  Mediator  between  God 
and  man!  If  I  am  crucified  with  him,  let 
me  rise  with  him;  let  me  die  to  sin,  as  he 


PRAYER.  97 

died  for  sin;  and  rise  to  newnesss  of  life,  as 
he  arose  from  death  to  Hfe.  Let  me  live 
under  the  influence  both  of  his  death  and  of 
his  life.  And  as  he  arose  and  triumphed 
over  death,  as  the  Head  of  his  church,  and 
as  the  first  fruits  of  his  people,  let  me  rejoice 
in  the  pledge  thus  given,  that  my  body  and 
the  bodies  of  all  his  people  shall  be  raised  in 
glory  hereafter,  fashioned  like  to  his  most 
glorious  body. 

PRAYER. 

My  blessed  Redeemer,  I  rejoice  that,  on 
the  third  day  after  thy  crucifixion,  thou  didst 
arise  from  the  dead.  I  bless  thee  for  appear- 
ing so  frequently  to  thy  disciples,  that  they 
might  know  thee  to  be  the  same  person,  with 
whom  they  had  lived  and  conversed,  and 
from  whom  they  had  received  so  many  acts 
of  kindness;  and  thus  be  assured,  by  infallible 
proofs,  that  thou  wast  alive  from  the  dead. 
I  bless  thee  for  the  wonders  of  the  day  of 
Pentecost,  by  which  thine  apostles  were  pre- 
pared to  bear  testimony  to  thy  glorious  resur- 
rection from  the  dead,  both  by  their  preaching, 
and  by  the  innumerable  miracles  which  they 
wrought  in  thy  name.  I  praise  thee,  that,  by 
establishing  and  preserving  thy  church  on 
the  earth,  in  the  midst  of  the  fires  of  persecu- 
tion and  the  rage  of  devils,  thou  hast,  in  every 
age,  given  proof  of  thy  resurrection  and  glo- 
rious exaltation  to  God's  right  hand. 

My  Lord  and  my  God,  I  believe  that  thou 


98  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

didst. arise  from  the  dead,  and  art  alive  for 
evermore.  By  this  wonderful  event,  by 
taking  up  thy  life  which  thou  wast  pleased  to 
lay  down,  thou  hast  firmly  established  thy 
claims  to  Messiahship,  and  proved  thyself  to 
be  the  Son  op  God.  And  God,  by  raising 
thee  from  the  dead,  has  pubhshed  to  the  world 
that  thou  hast  accompUshed  the  mighty  work 
of  redemption,  and  that  he  is  well  pleased 
with  it. 

And  hast  thou  not,  by  the  work  of  grace 
wrought  in  my  heart,  given  me  personal 
proofs  of  thy  resurrection  from  the  dead?  I 
live  because  thou  livest.  Thou  art  the  living 
vine,  from  which  I  derive  all  my  vitality  and 
fruitfulness.  Thou  livest  in  me  ;  and  "  the 
life  that  I  hve,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son 
of  God,  who  loved  me  and  gave  himself  for 
me." 

I  rejoice  that  thou  didst  arise  as  the  first 
fruits  of  them  that  sleep,  and  that  hereafter 
thou  wilt  raise  from  the  dead  my  dead  body, 
and  the  dead  bodies  of  all  thy  saints ;  and 
that  thou  wilt  change  our  vile  bodies,  and 
fashion  them  like  to  thy  most  glorious  body, 
and  that  we  shall  live  and  reign  with  thee 
for  ever  in  glory. 

May  I  ever  feel  the  power  of  thy  resurrec- 
tion, and  live  by  faith  on  this  glorious  truth 
of  our  divine  rehgion.     Amen. 


ASCENSION  OF  CHRIST.  99 


MEDITATION  XIII. 

Christ's  ascension  into  heaven,  and  in- 
tercession AT  god's  right  hand. 

Forty  days  elapsed  after  his  resurrection, 
before  our  Redeemer  ascended  to  heaven. 
During  that  time  he  frequently  appeared  to 
his  disciples  to  convince  them,  that  he  was 
indeed  alive  again,  conversing  with,  and  in- 
structing them  in,  things  pertaining  to  the 
kingdom  he  was  about  to  set  up  in  the  world. 
On  the  fortieth  day,  the  Redeemer,  being 
with  his  disciples  at  Jerusalem,  commanded 
them  to  remain  there,  till  they  received  the 
fulfilment  of  his  promise  to  give  them  the 
Holy  Ghost,  to  qualify  them  for  their  apos- 
tolical ministry.  Then  leading  them  out  to 
mount  Olivet,  "while  they  beheld,  he  was 
taken  up."  As  they  gazed  at  their  ascend- 
ing Lord,  with  wonder  and  deUght,  a  cloud 
intervening  concealed  him  from  their  view; 
and  two  angels  appeared,  who  assured  them, 
that  Jesus  their  Lord,  who  had  left  them  by 
g.scending  to  heaven,  would  hereafter  be  seen 
again  coming  from  heaven  to  judge  the 
world,  and  complete  the  salvation  of  his 
church.  The  apostles  returned  to  Jerusalem ; 
and  waited  there,  in  obedience  to  their  Mas- 
ter's direction,  for  the  promised  gift  of  the 
Spirit. 


100  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

What  followed  after  the  cloud  had  inter- 
cepted the  apostles'  view  of  their  ascending 
Lord,  we  are  not  told.  With  what  speed  he 
moved ;  by  what  worlds  he  passed  in  going  to 
the  highest  heavens,  we  are  wholly  ignorant. 
But,  from  the  language  of  prophecy,  PsaL 
Jxviii.  17,  18,  we  may  conclude,  that  angels, 
who  have  always  taken  so  deep  an  interest 
in  the  work  of  redemption,  and  who  were 
commanded  to  worship  the  Son  of  God, 
when  he  was  brought  into  the  world,  (Heb.  i. 
6,)  assembled  in  great  multitudes  to  form  a 
splendid  retinue,  and  grace  the  triumphant 
course  of  the  great  Conqueror  of  sin  and  the 
world,  of  death  and  hell;  who  was  now  dis- 
playing to  worlds  his  triumph,  especially 
over  those  principaKties  and  powers,  who 
were  so  eager  for  his  death.  Col.  ii.  1 5. 

And  when  the  Redeemer,  as  a  conqueror, 
who  had  achieved  such  signal  victories, 
brought  such  glory  to  God,  and  effected  sal- 
vation for  vast  numbers  of  fallen  and  intelli- 
gent creatures,  returning  to  heaven,  to  re- 
ceive his  promised  reward,  was  approaching 
the  gates  of  the  highest  heave?ns;  what  a 
movement  must  have  occurred  among  all 
orders  of  celestial  beings!  and  with  what 
eager  delight  did  they  hasten  to  welcome  him 
to  his  native  home,  and  pay  him  the  greatest 
possible  honours !  See  Psal.  xxiv.  7-10. 
"Worship  him,  all  ye  gods."  Psal.  xcvii.  7. 
"And  let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him.'' 
Heb.  i.  6. 

Having  entered  into  heaven,  the  Redeemer 


ASCENSION    OF    CHRIST.  101 

took  his  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 
This  we  are  taught  to  beUeve;  "so  then,  after 
the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them,  he  was  re- 
ceived up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right 
hand  of  God."  Mark  xvi.  19.  "Wiio  being 
the  brightness  of  his  glory,  and  the  express 
image  of  his  person,  and  upholding  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power,  when  he  had  by 
himself  purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high.'^  Heb. 
i.  3. 

The  import  of  this  phrase  may  be  learned 
from  the  following  passages  of  holy  Scripture, 
which  speak  of  the  exaltation  of  Jesns  Christ. 
Paul  says,  (Ephes.  i.  20-23,)  "which  he 
wrought  in  Christ,  when  he  raised  him  from 
the  dead,  and  set  him  at  his  right  hand  in  the 
heavenly  places^  far  above  all  principality 
and  power,  and  might,  and  dominion,  and 
every  name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this 
world,  but  also  in  that  which  is  to  come:  and 
hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet,  and  gave 
him  to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the  church; 
which  is  his  body,  the  fulness  of  him  that 
filleth  all  in  all."  And  again  he  says,  (Phil, 
ii.  9-11,)  "Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly 
exalted  him,  and  given  him  a  name  which  is 
above  every  name :  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus 
every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven, 
and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the 
earth;  and  that  every  tongue  should  confess 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord  to  the  glory  of  God 
the  Father." 

The  Redeemer,  then,  is  exalted  to  the 
9 


102  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

highest  honour  and  g\ory,  invested  with  un- 
Umited  dominion  over  all  worlds,  and  all 
their  inhabitants.  Every  thing,  throughout 
the  universe  of  God,  is  subjected  to  his 
authority  and  control;  and  all  intelligent 
creatures  of  every  order  are  required  to  wor- 
ship and  obey  him.  He  rules  over  all;  and 
he  will  judge  all,  in  the  last  day;  distributing 
rewards  to  the  righteous,  and  punishments  to 
the  wicked.  All  this  glory  and  dominion 
have  been  conferred  upon  him,  let  it  be  re- 
membered, not  as  God;  for  as  such  he  could 
receive  nothing,  because  he,  by  his  nature,  of 
necessity  possessed  all  things  by  right  of  cre- 
ation :  but  as  man  and  mediator;  in  which 
respect,  as  he  was  humbled,  so  he  could 
be  exalted;  and  being  a  divine  person,  he 
was  capable  of  holding  the  reins  of  universal 
dominion,  and  conducting  the  government  of 
the  universe  with  consummate  skill  and  infi- 
nite wisdom. 

The  ascension  and  exaltation  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Redeemer,  is  matter  of  praise  and 
joy  for  different  reasons.  He  has  received 
the  reward  that  was  promised  him  when  he 
undertook  the  mighty  work  he  so  nobly 
accomplished.  "For  the  joy  that  was  set 
before  him,  (the  joy  of  glorifying  God  in  the 
salvation  of  a  lost  world,)  he  endured  the 
cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down 
on  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God." 
Heb.  xii.  2.  Who  that  loves  the  Saviour 
will  not  rejoice,  that  he  has  received  his  pro- 
mised reward,  and  that  this  world  and  all 


CHRIST    AT    god's    RIGHT    HAND.       103 

Other  worlds  are  governed  by  him,  who  loved 
sinners  and  gave  himself  for  them?  ^'  The 
Lord,"  the  Saviom-,  '-'reigneth:  let  the  earth 
rejoice ;  let  the  multitude  of  isles  be  glad 
thereof."     Psal.  xcvii.  1. 

Another  reason  for  joy,  thanksgiving,  and 
praise,  is  this.  The  Redeemer  has  entered 
heaven  as  our  forerunner;  Heb.  vi.  19,  20; 
and  gone  to  prepare  for  his  people  mansions 
in  his  Father's  house;  to  which,  in  due  time, 
he  will  receive  them,  that  where  he  is,  there 
they  may  be  also.  John  xiv.  1-3.  Being 
united  to  Christ  by  faith,  believers  have  vir- 
tually risen  and  ascended  with  him,  and  now 
sit  with  him  in  heavenly  places.  Ephes.  ii. 
6,  7.  And  does  not  this  demand  our  praise 
and  thanksgiving  to  God  ?  and  should  we  not 
rejoice  that  our  exalted  Redeemer  holds  in 
his  hands  our  future  and  eternal  inheritance, 
which  he  purchased  with  his  precious  blood? 

Behold,  my  soul,  on  the  throne  of  the  uni- 
verse, thy  Saviour,  thy  Forerunner,  thy  eider 
Brother,  and  thy  dearest  Friend.  Let  this 
furnish  thee  with  a  song  of  thanksgiving,  joy, 
and  praise,  in  the  house  of  thy  pilgrimage. 
"  Seek  those  things  that  are  above,  where 
Christ  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  Set 
thy  affections  on  things  above,  not  on  things 
on  the  earth."  Thy  "  life,"  remember,  "  is 
hid  with  Christ  in  God."  Col.  iii.  1-3. 
Abide,  therefore,  in  him,  and  he  in  thee; 
and  thus  thou  wilt  bring  forth  much  fruit  to 
the  glory  of  God.    John  xiv.  5. 


104  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

The  church  is  safe  in  the  hands  of  her  ex- 
alted Head.  She  is  indeed  environed  with 
numerous  and  powerful  enemies.  But  her 
glorious  Redeemer,  who  loves  her,  is  mighty 
to  save.  He  triumphed  over  them  on  his 
cross ;  for  by  dying  he  destroyed  death  and 
him  that  had  the  power  of  death,  that  is,  the 
devil.  By  his  death  he  subverted  the  empire 
of  Satan,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  his  own 
kingdom  that  will  last  for  ever.  His  church 
has  been  protected  and  delivered  by  him  in 
past  ages;  and  he  will  protect  and  deliver 
her  in  all  time  to  come.  Her  enemies  con- 
quered are  held  by  him  in  chains  as  captives. 
No  assault  can  be  made  by  them  without  his 
knowledge  and  permission;  and  he  will  as- 
suredly watch  all  their  designs,  and  overrule 
them  for  the  benefit  of  his  people,  and  finally 
secure  to  them  a  complete  victory  over  them, 
and  cause  them  to  share  in  his  triumph  over 
all  his  and  their  enemies. 

Rejoice,  my  soul,  that  thou  art  in  the  hands 
of  One  who  is  mighty  to  save,  and  who  has 
said,  "  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know 
them,  and  they  follow  me :  and  I  give  unto 
them  eternal  life;  and  they  shall  never  perish, 
neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand. 
My  Father,  which  gave  them  me,  is  greater 
than  all ;  and  no  man  (no  one)  is  able  to 
pluck  them  out  of  my  Father's  hand.  I  and 
my  Father  are  one.'^     John  x.  27-30. 


PRAYER.  105 


PRAYER. 


Thou,  0  my  Redeemer,  hast  "  ascended  np 
on  high,"  thou  hast  "led  captivity  captive ;" 
thou  art  seated  on  the  right  hand  of  God;  thou 
art  invested  with  universal  dominion.  I  be- 
Heve  the  truth,  and  rejoice  in  it.  I  rejoice 
that  thou  hast  received  the  promised  reward, 
and  that  thou  hast  gone  into  heaven  as  the 
forerurnier  of  thy  people  to  prepare  mansions 
of  rest  for  them.  Thou  hast  received  gifts  for 
men,  and  thou  art  bestowing  them  on  thy 
church.  She  is  safe  in  thy  hand,  and  no 
weapon  formed  against  her  shall  prosper. 

And  being  united  to  thee  by  faith,  do  I  not 
participate  with  thee  in  thy  ascension  and  ex- 
altation? Do  I  not  sit  with  thee  in  heavenly 
places?  What  an  influence,  then,  should  this 
blessed  truth  have  upon  me!  How  should  I 
seek  the  things  that  are  above,  where  thou 
sittest  at  the  right  hand  of  God!  0  for  a 
heavenly  mind !  0  for  a  heart  to  rise  above 
the  world,  and  dwell  in  heavenly  things! 
Draw  me,  0  my  exalted  Redeemer,  and  help 
me  to  live  in  a  manner  correspondent  to  my 
glorious  destiny.  Prepare  me  to  sit  with  thee, 
on  thy  throne,  and  to  enjoy  and  praise  thee 
for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


106  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 


MEDITATION   XIV. 


THE    INTERCESSION    OF    CHRIST. 

Of  the  Intercession  of  our  great  High  Priest, 
was  exhibited  to  the  Jewish  church  an  emi- 
nent type  on  the  annual  day  of  atonement. 
On  that  day  their  high  priest,  having  offered 
the  prescribed  sacrifice,  first,  for  himself,  and 
then  for  the  sins  of  the  people,  went  into  the 
most  holy  place,  to  burn  incense  and  make 
intercession  for  the  people.  So  our  great 
High  Priest,  having  offered  his  prescribed 
sacrifice,  went  into  heaven,  typified  by  the 
most  holy  place  in  the  temple,  and  made  in- 
tercession for  his  church. 

But  let  me  mark  the  difference  between  the 
type  and  the  Antitype.  The  Jewish  high 
priest  offered  sacrifice  for  his  own  sins;  but 
our  High  Priest,  being  perfectly  free  from  all 
personal  sins,  offered  no  sacrifice  for  himself. 
The  former  ofi'ered  animal  sacrifices;  but  the 
latter  offered  up  Himself  as  a  sacrifice  for  his 
people.  The  sacrifices  which  the  former 
offered  could  not  take  away  sin;  but  the  great 
sacrifice  which  the  latter  offered  effectually 
cleanseth  from  all  sin.  Heb.  ix.  12-14.  The 
former  had  to  offer  annually  his  appointed 
sacrifices;  Heb.  ix.  25;  but  the  latter  com- 
pleted his  work,  by  offering  his  one  great 


THE    INTERCESSION    OF    CHRIST.         107 

sacrifice.  Heb.  ix.  25-28.  The  former  had 
to  yield  his  office  to  his  successor ;  Heb.  vii.  28 ; 
but  the  latter,  having  an  unchangeable  priest- 
hood, ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  his 
church.     Heb.  vii.  24,  25. 

The  Redeemer's  sacrifice  was,  in  its  intrin- 
sic value,  sufficient  for  the  salvation  of  all  men; 
and  his  ministers  are  authorized  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  all  men,  and  to  say  to  every  one 
who  hears  them,  "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.''  But  he 
intercedes  in  heaven  only  for  his  chosen  peo- 
ple. So  he  tells  us  in  that  solemn  intercessory 
prayer,  which  he  offered  to  his  Father,  just 
before  his  crucifixion.  "  I  pray  for  them :  I 
pray  not  for  the  world,  but  for  them  which 
thou  hast  given  me;  for  they  are  thine.  And 
all  mine  are  thin%  and  thine  are  mine  ;  and  I 
am  glorified  in  them.  Neither  pray  I  for 
these  alone,  but  for  them  also  which  shall  be- 
lieve on  me  through  their  word." 

Every  believer  may  rest  assured,  that  his 
name  is  written  on  the  heart  of  our  great 
High  Priest,  and  that  he  intercedes  for  him 
before  the  throne. 

How  invaluable  the  blessings  for  which  our 
glorious  Intercessor  prays !  He  does  not  ask 
that  we  should  be  taken  out  of  the  world,  but 
that  we  should  be  kept  from  the  evil.  He  is 
willing  that  we  should  be  left  in  the  world, 
evil  and  ensnaring  as  it  is,  to  accomplish  our 
assigned  work,  in  the  allotted  time;  but  he 
prays  to  his  Father,  that  we  may  be  kept 
from  the  evil  One,  and  not  permitted  to  be 


108  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

overcome  by  his  subtile  and  wicked  devices, 
and  may  be  sanctified  more  and  more,  by  the 
purifying  influence  of  the  word  of  God. 

Another  blessing  for  which  he  prays,  is  one 
that  claims  the  serious  consideration  of  all 
professing  Christians.  It  is  their  unity :  "  That 
they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one;  I  in 
them,  and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be  made 
perfect  in  one;  that  the  world  may  know  that 
thou  hast  sent  me,  and  hast  loved  them,  as 
thou  hast  loved  me.''  John  xvii.  22,  23. 
Does  our  blessed  Redeemer  pray  to  his  Father 
that  his  disciples  may  love  one  another,  and 
exhibit  such  unity,  as  will  convince  the  world, 
that  they  are  animated  by  principles  which 
the  world  does  not  possess,  and  bring  honour 
to  their  heavenly  source;  and  shall  we  not 
endeavour  to  cultivate  the  liindest  feelings  of 
brotherly  love ;  avoiding  all  strife  and  con- 
tentions, that  would  mar  and  obscure  our 
unity  of  spirit  and  heart? 

Nor  is  this  all :  our  blessed  Lord  prays  for 
the  consummation  of  the  happiness  of  his  dis- 
ciples in  the  kingdom  of  his  glory.  He  leaves 
them,  for  an  appointed  time,  in  the  world,  to 
endure  afflictions  and  trials,  and  to  serve  God 
in  their  day  and  generation;  but  he  designs 
them  for  a  higher  and  a  heavenly  state  of  ex- 
istence, near  to  himself,  the  Lord  of  glory. 
Of  this  we  are  assured  in  his  solemn  interces- 
sory prayer:  "Father,  I  will  that  they  also, 
whom  thou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me 
where  I  am;  that  they  may  behold  my  glory, 
which  thou  hast  given  me :  for  thou  lovedst 


THE    INTERCESSION    OF    CHRIST.         109 

me  before  the  foundation  of  the   world.-' 
John  xvii.  24. 

How  prevaiUng  the  intercession  of  our 
great  High  Priest!  He  pleads  for  us,  not 
like  one  supphcating  for  blessings,  which  he 
knows  he  does  not  deserve;  but,  as  a  Son 
with  his  Father,  who  knows  he  prays  for 
promised  blessings,  which  were  purchased 
with  his  blood.  His  intercession,  founded  on 
his  all  meritorious  sacrifice,  must  be  ever 
prevailing.  At  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  he 
said,  "Father,  I  thank  thee,  that  thou  hast 
heard  me.  And  I  knew  that  thou  hearest 
me  always;  but  because  of  the  people  that 
stand  by  I  said  it,  that  they  may  believe  that 
thou  hast  sent  me."  John  xi.  41,  42.  Not 
one  for  whom  he  intercedes  shall  fail  of 
salvation;  not  one  petition  he  presents  can 
fail  to  be  heard  and  granted. 

Is  a  doubt  excited  in  the  mind,  by  the 
want  of  unity  in  the  church?  Will  any  one 
inquire,  how  the  discordant  state  of  Christen- 
dom accords  with  the  prayer  of  our  Saviour 
for  the  unity  of  his  disciples?  They  are 
united  in  the  strictest  manner;  living  in  union 
to  one  Lord — under  the  same  government — 
inhabited  by  one  Spirit — rejoicing  in  the 
same  blessed  hope — children  of  the  same 
heavenly  family — meeting  daily  at  the  same 
throne  of  grace — heirs  of  the  same  kingdom, 
and  animated  by  the  same  love  for  Christ, 
for  his  cause,  and  people.  In  primitive  times 
their  love  for  each  other  was  so  conspicuous, 
as  to  attract  and  command  the  admiration  of 
10 


110  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

the  heathen;  and  hereafter  Christian  love 
will  so  burn  as  to  consume  all  obstructions 
to  its  heavenly  course,  and  make  the  church 
visibly^  as  she  always  has  been  spiritually, 
one  blessed  society.  The  apparent  want  of 
imion  arises  from  the  great  number  of  mere 
professors,  who  have  attached  themselves  to 
the  visible  church,  and  the  corrupting  and 
disorganizing  influence  of  civil  governments 
in  her  affairs. 

Welcome  that  happy  period,  when  all 
these  obstructions  to  the  visible  unity  of  the 
church,  shall  be  removed;  when  political 
men  shall  keep  within  their  appropriate 
sphere,  and  leave  her  government  to  those  to 
whose  hands  her  glorious  Head  has  commit- 
ted it:  and  when  all  her  members  shall  be 
what  they  profess  to  be!  Then  shall  the 
world  be  indeed  convinced  of  the  divine  mis- 
sion of  Jesus  Christ;  and  the  church  on  earth 
be  a  beautiful  and  glorious  type  of  the  church 
in  heaven;  where  the  prevailing  influence  of 
our  great  Intercessor,  will  be  seen,  in  all  its 
glorious  power,  without  an  intervening  cloud 
to  obscure  the  most  perfect  unity  of  all  his 
redeemed  people.  Love  to  Christ  and  love^ 
to  one  another,  will  bind  them  together  in* 
the  closest  and  most  intimate  unity,  free  from 
every  discordant  feeling,  for  ever,  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  of  the  Lamb.  0!  blessed  con- 
summation of  grace,  and  love,  and  glory, 
come  quickly,  and  let  the  Redeemer  see  of 
the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  satisfied ! 


PRATER.  Ill 


PRAYER, 


Most  High  and  Holy  God,  by  the  interces- 
sion of  our  great  High  Priest,  I  am  remind- 
ed of  my  fallen  and  sinful  condition.  Man, 
while  innocent  and  holy,  stood  in  no  need  of 
a  mediator.  He  had  immediate  access,  like 
the  holy  angels,  to  thy  throne,  and  could  offer 
up  his  prayers,  thanksgivings,  and  praises 
acceptably  to  his  Creator  and  Benefactor. 
But  this  great  privilege  he  has  forfeited  by 
sin.  Guilty  and  depraved,  it  does  not  be- 
come infinite  purity  to  allow  him  to  approach 
for  worship,  but  through  a  Mediator.  Bles- 
sed be  thy  great  name,  we  have  a  glorious 
Mediator,  who  has  opened  up  for  us  a  new 
and  living  way  of  access  to  the*  mercy-seat, 
through  the  rent  veil,  that  is,  his  flesh. 
In  infinite  mercy  thine  own  Son  has  been 
appointed  to  this  high  office;  who,  having 
offered  up  himself  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  has 
gone  as  our  High  Priest  into  heaven,  the 
most  holy  place,  to  intercede  for  his  people. 
And  blessed  be  thy  name,  we  have  now  the 
privilege  of  drawing  nigh  by  him  into  thy 
presence,  with  boldness,  and  to  ask  of  thee, 
with  believing  confidence,  every  needed 
blessing. 

Gracious  God,  grant  me  faith  in  this  great 
High  Priest  and  Intercessor.  0!  may  my 
worthless  name  be  graven  on  his  heart,  and 
I  be  an  object  of  his  prevailing  intercession. 
Let  all  the  blessings  for  which  he  prays  be 


112  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

bestowed  on  me.  May  I  be  preserved  from 
the  evil  one,  kept,  and  guarded  and  preserved 
by  thy  power  and  grace,  while  I  remain  in 
this  world !  Sanctify  me  by  thy  truth ;  and 
grant,  I  beseech  thee,  that  I  may  be  enabled 
to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of 
peace.  May  I  cherish  and  cultivate  the 
kindest  feelings  of  brotherly  love  towards  my 
fellow  disciples,  and,  at  last,  be  taken  to 
Christ,  to  dwell  with  him,  and  behold  his 
glory.  Hear  my  prayer,  and  grant  all  these 
blessings,  I  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  my  God, 
for  the  sake  of  my  great  High  Priest  and 
Advocate,  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 


MEDITATION  XV. 

CHRIST    COMING    TO    JUDGMENT. 

Of  this  sublime  event  we  are  reminded  by 
the  words  of  our  Lord  in  his  precious  institu- 
tion; "for  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  this  cup,  3^6  do  show  the  Lord's  death 
till  he  come.'' 

Like  the  passover,  the  Lord's  supper  has  a 
doable  aspect.  As  the  former  looked  back 
to  the  deliverance  of  Israel  from  Egyptian 
bondage,  and  forward  to  that  greater  deliver- 
ance of  the  true  Israel  from  bondage  to  sin, 


CHRIST    COMING    TO    JUDGMENT.  113 

the  world  and  Satan,  which  it  typified;  so 
the  Lord's  supper  looks  back  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  our  redemption  by  his  great 
sacrifice,  and  forward  to  his  second  coming 
to  complete  our  salvation. 

That  God  will,  at  some  future  day,  judge 
the  world,  human  reason  can  infer  from  the 
disorder  prevailing  in  the  present  state  of 
things.  It  cannot  be  that  under  the  govern- 
ment of  righteousness,  the  wicked  should 
oppress  the  good,  without  being  called  to  an 
account  for  their  evil  deeds.  Vice  may  tri- 
umph for  a  time  over  virtue;  but  its  triumph 
will  be  short.  The  honour  of  God's  right- 
eousness requires  that  the  prevalent  disorder 
in  human  aflairs,  should  be  corrected,  and 
that  the  world  should  learn,  that  he  will 
appear  as  the  friend  of  righteousness,  and  as 
the  enemy  of  unrighteousness. 

But  we  are  not  left  to  our  reason  to  esta- 
blish this  great  truth,  so  important  to  be 
known.  In  every  age,  God  has,  by  his 
inspired  prophets,  assured  mankind,  that  he 
will  summon  them  before  his  awful  and 
righteous  tribunal,  to  render  up  to  him  an 
account  of  their  conduct  in  the  present  state, 
and  to  receive  their  rewards  and  punish- 
ments. "Enoch,  the  seventh  from  Adam, 
prophesied  of  these  things,  saying,  Behold, 
the  Lord  cometh  with  ten  thousand  of  his 
saints,  to  execute  judgment  upon  all,  and.  to 
convince  all  that  are  ungodly  among  them  of 
all  their  ungodly  deeds,  which  they  have 
ungodly  committed,  and   of  all    their   hard 


114  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

speeches  which  ungodly  sinners  have  spoken 
against  him."  Jude  14,  15.  David  pro- 
claims this  great  truth:  "Our  God  shall  come, 
and  shall  not  keep  silence:  a  fire  goeth  be- 
fore him,  and  it  shall  be  very  tempestuous 
round  about  him.  He  shall  call  to  the  hea- 
vens from  above,  and  to  the  earth  that  he 
may  judge  his  people.  Gather  my  saints 
together  unto  me;  those  that  have  made  a 
covenant  with  me  by  sacrifice.  And  the 
heavens  shall  declare  his  righteousness:  for 
God  is  judge  himself."  Psal.  1.  3-6.  Paul 
reasoned  of  "righteousness,  of  temperance, 
and  judgment  to  come,  and  Felix  trembled." 
Acts  xxiv.  25.  And  in  his  epistle  to  the 
Hebrews,  (Heb.  ix.  27,)  he  affirms,  "It  is 
appointed  unto  men  once  to  die,  but  after 
this  the  judgment."  John  says  "I  saw  a 
great  white  throne,  and  him  that  sat  on  it, 
from  whose  face  the  earth  and  the  heaven 
fled  away :  and  there  was  found  no  place  for 
them.  And  I  saw  the  dead,  small  and  great, 
stand  before  God;  and  the  books  were  open- 
ed: and  another  book  was  opened,  which 
is  the  book  of  life:  and  the  dead  were  judged 
out  of  those  things  which  were  written  in  the 
books,  according  to  their  works.  And  the 
sea  gave  up  the  dead  which  were  in  it;  and 
death  and  hell  delivered  up  the  dead  which 
were  in  them:  and  they  were  judged  every 
man,  according  to  their  works."  Rev.  xx. 
11-13. 

The  day  of  judgment  is  fixed;  "but  of  that 
day  and  that  hour  knoweth  no  man,  no  not 


CHRIST    COMING    TO    JUDGMENT.  115 

the  angels  which  are  in  heaven,  but  my 
Father  only.'^  Mat.  xxiv.  36.  Hence  it  is 
written,  "The  day  of  the  Lord  so  cometh  as 
a  thief  in  the  night.''  2  Pet.  iii.  10. 

Awful  day!  "But  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  which  are  now,  by  the  same  word,  are 
kept  in  store,  reserved  unto  fire  against  the 
day  of  judgment  and  perdition  of  ungodly 
men;  in  the  wliich  the  heavens  shall  pass 
away  with  a  great  noise,  and  the  elements 
shall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  also 
and  the  works  tliat  are  therein  shall  be  burn- 
ed up."  2  Pet.  iii.  7,  10. 

But  let  me  rejoice,  the  Judge,  before 
whose  bar  I  shall  be  arraigned,  and  from 
whose  lips  I  shall  hear  the  sentence  that  will 
determine  my  everlasting  condition,  is  the 
Lord  Jesus.  So  he  assures  me.  "The  Fa- 
ther judgeth  no  man,  but  hath  committed  all 
judgment  unto  the  Son,  that  all  men  should 
honour  the  Son,  even  as  they  honour  the 
Father.  He  that  honoureth  not  the  Son, 
honoureth  not  the  Father  which  hath  sent 
him.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He  that 
heareth  my  word,  and  believeth  on  him  that 
sent  me,  hath  everlasting  hfe,  and  shall  not 
come  into  condemnation;  but  is  passed  from 
death  unto  life.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you.  The  hour  is  coming,  and  now  is,  when 
the  dead  shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of 
God:  and  they  that  hear  shall  live.  For  as 
the  Father  hath  life  in  himself,  so  hath  he 
given  to  the  Son  to  have  life  in  himself;  and 
hath  given  him  authority  to  execute  judgment 


116  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

also,  because  he  is  the  Son  of  man.  Marvel 
not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is  coming,  in  the 
which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear 
his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth:  they  that 
have  done  good  imto  the  resurrection  of  life; 
and  they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resur- 
rection of  damnation."  John  v.  22-29. 

How  exalted  and  glorious  Avill  my  Sa- 
viour then  appear  to  an  assembled  universe ! 
"When  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  his 
glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him,  then 
shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  glory:  and 
before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  nations :  and 
he  shall  separate  them  one  from  another,  as 
a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the  goats: 
and  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand, 
but  the  goats  on  the  left.  Then  shall  the 
King  say  unto  them  on  his  right  hand,  Come, 
ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world;  for  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye  gave 
me  meat;  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me 
drink:  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in; 
naked,  and  ye  clothed  me :  I  was  sick,  and 
ye  visited  me :  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came 
unto  me.'^  Oh !  the  infinite  condescension 
and  mercy  of  the  Redeemer,  thus  to  notice 
and  reward  the  good  deeds  done  by  his 
disciples,  to  their  fellow  disciples,  as  if  done 
to  himself!  "And  then  shall  he  say  unto 
them  on  the  left  hand,  Depart  from  me,  ye 
cursed  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels :  for  I  was  an  hungered, 
and  ye   gave  me  no  meat:   I  was    thirsty, 


CHRIST    COMING    TO    JUDGMENT.         117 

and  ye  gave  me  no  drink:  I  was  a  stranger, 
and  ye  took  me  not  in:  naked,  and  ye  cloth- 
ed me  not :  sick  and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited 
me  not."  Mat.  xxv.  31-43, 

How  terrible  will  be  that  day  of  glory  to 
his  enemies;  "when  the  Lord  Jesus  shall 
be  revealed  from  heaven,  with  his  mighty 
angels,  in  flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on 
them  that  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the 
gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  who  shall 
be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord  and  from  the  glory 
of  his  power !"  2  Thess.  i.  7-9.  But  how  joy- 
ful will  it  be  to  his  friends,  "when  he  shall 
come  to  be  glorified  in  his  saints,  and  admired 
in  all  them  that  believe!"  (Verse  10.)  "For 
the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heaven 
with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel, 
and  with  the  trump  of  God:  and  the  dead  in 
Christ  shall  rise  first."  1  Thess.  iv.  16.  "Be- 
hold, I  show  you  a  mystery.  We  shall  not 
all  sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed.  In  a 
moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the 
last  trump  ;  for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and 
the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and 
we  shall  be  changed.  For  this  corruptible 
must  put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal 
must  put  on  immortality.  So  then  when 
this  corruptible  shall  have  put  on  incorrup- 
tion, and  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on  im- 
mortality, then  shall  be  brought  to  pass  the 
saving  that  is  written,  Death  is  swallowed 
up  in  victory.  0  death,  where  is  thy  sting? 
0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?     The  sting  of 


lis  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

death  is  sin;  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the 
law.  But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth 
us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  1  Cor.  xv.  51-57.  "Tlien  cometh 
the  end,  when  he  shall  have  delivered  up  the 
kingdom  to  God,  even  the  Father;  when  he 
shall  have  put  down  all  rule,  and  all  author- 
ity and  power.  For  he  must  reign,  till  he 
hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet.  The 
last  enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed  is  death." 
1  Cor.  XV.  24-27. 

Rejoice,  my  soul,  in  view  of  that  glorious 
day,  when  thy  salvation  will  be  consumma- 
ted! Never  lose  sight  of  it;  but  steadily 
look  for  the  coming  of  thy  I^ord,  that  thou 
mayest  receive  from  him  a  crown  of  right- 
eousness. 

PRAYER. 

Almighty  God,  Sovereign  of  the  universe, 
thou  reignest  over  this  world,  with  infinite 
wisdom  and  justice.  Darkness,  disorder,  and 
confusion  surround  me;  but  I  am  sustained 
by  thy  word.  Light  will  be  brought  out  of 
this  darkness,  and  order  out  of  this  confusion. 
Thou  hast  appointed  a  day  in  which  thou 
wilt  judge  the  world  in  righteousness,  by  thy 
Son  Jesus  Christ,  whom  thou  hast  appointed 
imiversal  Judge;  of  which  thou  hast  given 
assurance  unto  all  men,  by  his  resurrection 
from  the  dead.  I  believe  and  rejoice  in  the 
truth.  I  rejoice  that  my  Redeemer  is  thus 
exalted,  and  that  he  will  arraign  both  his 


I 


LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  119 

friends  and  his  enemies  before  his  judgment- 
seat,  from  which  he  will  pronounce  the  sen- 
tence of  hfe  on  the  one,  and  the  sentence  of 
death  on  the  other.  I  rejoice  in  the  behef  of 
thy  word ;  and  pray  that  my  faith  in  it  may 
become  stronger  and  stronger.  Afford  me 
grace,  1  beseech  thee,  to  Uve  daily  under  the 
influence  of  this  great  and  interesting  truth. 
May  I  constantly  act  in  reference  to  the  com- 
ing judgment.  Grant  that  the  future  appear- 
mg  of  the  Lord  may  be  the  joy  of  my  heart, 
and  that  when  I  shall  see  him  in  that  day  I 
may  triumph  in  his  grace,  and  receive  from 
his  hands  a  crown  of  life.  All  this,  I  aslc  in 
his  name.     Amen. 


MEDITATION  XVI. 

THE     LOVE     OF     CHRIST. 

The  love  of  Christ,  how  peerless  and  won- 
derful !  How  it  beams  in  amazing  splendour 
from  his  cross,  and  sheds  a  glorious  light  on 
all  that  preceded,  and  on  all  that  followed  it! 
Love  was  the  spring  of  all  that  he  did  and 
suffered  for  us ! 

Did  he  undertake  the  redemption  of  our 
fallen  race?  Love  prompted  the  infinite 
condescension.     Did  he  empty  himself  of  his 


120  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

glory,  take  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  appear 
in  the  fashion  and  hkeness  of  a  man?  Love 
disposed  him  to  submit  to  the  profound 
humiliation.  Why  did  he  subject  himself  to 
the  law,  and  obey  all  its  requisitions?  Why 
did  he  live  in  obscurity  and  poverty?  Why 
did  he  encounter  opposition,  slander,  and 
reviling  from  wicked  men?  Because  he 
loved  us.  It  was  love  for  us  that  led  him  to 
ttie  garden,  where  he  agonized,  and  sweat  as 
it  were,  great  drops  of  blood,  and  offered  up 
that  mysterious  prayer:  "0  my  Father,  if 
it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me. 
Nevertheless,  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt.'^ 
Mat.  xxvi.  39. 

He  is  betrayed  with  the  kiss  of  a  disciple; 
he  is  bound  by  the  soldiers,  and  rudely  led  to 
the  palace  of  the  high  priest.  There  he  is 
treated  with  the  utmost  indiguity,  and  con- 
demned to  death.  Then  he  is  hurried  to 
Pilate's  bar,  and  accused  of  treason  and  blas- 
phemy, and  his  crucifixion  demanded.  Pi- 
late cowardly  yields  to  the  clamorous  de- 
mands of  the  Jews,  against  his  own  convic- 
tions. He  is  condemned,  scourged,  crowned 
with  thorns,  and  cruelly  mocked.  He  bears 
it  all  with  the  utmost  patience;  and  suffers 
his  blessed  body  to  be  nailed  to  the  cross, 
and  put  to  death.  Ah!  had  he  not  loved  us, 
he  would  have  hurled  Pilate  from  his  judg- 
ment seat,  and  laid  all  his  enemies  prostrate 
and  lifeless  on  the  ground;  and  the  scene 
that  occurred  on  Calvary,  would  never  have 
been  witnessed,  nor  would  that  doleful  cry 


LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  121 

Iiave  been  heard,  "My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me?" 

The  love  of  Christ  was  perfectly  free. 
He  was  under  no  obligations  to  interpose  in 
behalf  of  our  fallen  race.  He  might  have 
left  us  to  sink  for  ever  under  condemnation 
and  in  deserved  misery,  without  tarnishing 
his  glory.  Nor  did  he  stand  in  any  need  of 
our  services;  for,  with  a  word,  he  could 
have  called  into  existence  a  thousand  worlds, 
and  peopled  them  with  superior  intelligent 
creatures,  who  would  have  rendered  cheer- 
ful obedience  to  his  high  commands.  His 
love,  then,  WdiS  perfectly  free. 

It  was  as  sovereign  as  it  was  free.  The 
fallen  angels  belonged  to  an  order  of  beings 
superior  to  our  race.  But  the  Son  of  God 
did  not  love  them.  He  did  not  undertake  to 
save  them  from  ruin  and  misery.  He  left 
them  to  suffer  the  bitter  consequences  of  their 
unprovoked  and  ungrateful  rebellion,  in 
chains  of  darkness  unto  the  judgment  of  the 
great  day.  This  superior  order  of  creatures 
he  passed  by,  without  visiting  them  with  the 
overflowings  of  his  mercy;  and,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  his  adorable  sovereignty,  he  was  pleas- 
ed to  set  his  love  on  our  inferior  race,  and 
deliver  us  from  richly  merited  misery ! 

And  how  costly  to  himself  was  the  Re- 
deemer's love!  Our  redemption  could  not 
be  effected  by  a  mere  proclamation  of  divine 
amnesty,  by  merely  blotting  out  our  sins. 
Nor  could  an  incarnate  angel,  acting  and  suf- 
fering as  our  substitute,  have  achieved  the 


122  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

mighty  work.  Infinitely  more  than  this  was 
demanded.  The  redemption  of  our  fallen 
race  required  the  interposition  and  sufferings 
of  an  incarnate  God.  Blood  divine,  offended 
justice  called  for.  And  so  infinite  was  the 
love  of  the  Son  of  God  to  us,  that  he  willing- 
ly consented  to  meet  and  satisfy  all  the  de- 
mands of  law  and  justice;  to  yield  the  obe- 
dience which  we  were  unable  to  yield,  and  to 
suffer  the  punishment  which  we  could  not 
endure. 

To  form  some  conception  how  costly  was 
thy  Saviour's  love,  think,  my  soul,  of  his 
lowly  birth,  of  his  sorrowful  life,  of  his  num- 
berless enemies,  of  Pilate's  judgment  seat,  of 
Herod  and  his  soldiers,  of  the  malignant 
Jewish  priests  and  rulers;  and  especially  of 
his  wonderful  agony  in  the  garden,  and  of 
what  he  endured  during  the  three  hours  of 
darkness,  when  hanging  on  the  cross,  his 
Father  forsook  him,  bruised  him,  and  made 
his  soul  an  offering  for  sin. 

Having  considered  how  free,  and  sover- 
eign, and  costly  the  love  of  Christ  was,  let 
me  now  contemplate  the  rich  benefits  it  con- 
fers on  its  objects.  How  inestimable,  how 
surpassing  all  comprehension!  Guilty,  their 
guilt  is  taken  away,  and  all  their  sins  are 
freely  and  fully  forgiven.  Dead  in  sin,  they 
are  quickened  to  a  new,  spiritual,  holy,  and 
divine  life.  At  enmity  with  God,  they  are 
reconciled  to  God  and  brought  into  a  state  of 
favour.  Condemned,  they  are  justified  and 
made  righteous,  through  the  imputed  right- 


LOVE    OF    CHRIST.  123 

eousness  of  Christ.  From  the  family  of  Sa- 
tan, they  are  taken,  and  adopted  into  the 
family  of  the  Most  High,  and  enrolled  among 
his  children.  Heirs  of  wrath,  they  are  con- 
stituted heirs  of  heaven.  The  Spirit  is  sent 
down  from  above  to  dwell  for  ever  in  their 
hearts,  as  their  teacher  and  guide,  as  their 
sanctifier  and  comforter,  as  a  pledge  of  joys 
to  come,  and  to  seal  them  unto  the  day  of 
redemption.  They  are  partially  sanctified 
here,  and  they  will  be  perfectly  sanctified 
hereafter. 

They  open  the  book  of  God,  and  what  do 
they  read  ?  That  God  has  made  with  them 
an  everlasting  covenant,  confirmed  by  the 
blood  of  his  Son,  and  sealed  to  them,  at  the 
table  of  their  Lord,  with  the  symbols  of  his 
broken  body  and  shed  blood;  a  covenant 
comprehending  time  and  eternity,  and  bless- 
ings that  transcend  their  highest  conceptions; 
a  covenant  including  exceeding  great  and 
precious  promises;  in  which  it  is  written, 
*'For  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and  shield;  the 
Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory:  no  good 
things  will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk 
^lprighd3^"  Psal.  Ixxxiv.  11.  "He  that 
spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him 
up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also 
freely  give  us  all  things.'^  Rom.  vhi.  32. 
"Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give 
thee  a  crown  of  life.'^  Rev.  ii.  10.  "To  him 
that  overcometh  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me 
on  my  throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame, 
and  am  set  down  with  my  Father  on  his 


124  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

throne."  Rev.  iii.  21.  What  amazing  pro- 
mises these ! 

Contemplating  the  love  of  Christ,  so  rich 
in  its  benefits  to  them,  well  may  the  redeem- 
ed exclaim  with  John;  "Behold,  what  man- 
ner of  love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  on  us, 
that  we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God: 
therefore  the  world  knoweth  us  not,  because 
it  knew  him  not.  Beloved,  now  are  we  the 
sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear, 
what  we  shall  be:  but  we  know  that,  when 
he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  hke  him;  for  we 
shall  see  him  as  he  is."  1  John  iii.  1,  2. 

For  love  so  free  and  sovereign,  so  costly 
and  rich,  what  shall  I  render  to  my  Lord  and 
Master?  I  have  nothing  to  give  him,  but 
my  worthless  heart.  Will  he  accept  this 
poor  return?  He  will;  for  this  is  all  he 
seeks.  0 !  then,  let  me  love  him  Avith  all 
my  heart,  and  soul,  and  might,  and  strength. 
Let  my  heart  overflow  with  gratitude,  for 
his  amazing  grace  and  blessings.  Let  me  for 
ever  speak  his  praise;  and,  as  "to  this  end 
Christ  died,  and  rose,  and  revived,  that  he 
might  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  living;" 
(Rom.  xiv.  9;)  let  me  acknowledge  him  to  be 
my  Lord,  and  yield  to  him  a  cheerful,  unre- 
served, and  growing  obedience  to  all  his 
commandments.  This  is  the  only  way  to 
prove  my  love  to  him,  who  loved  me  and 
gave  himself  for  me;  for  he  has  said,  "If  ye 
love  me,  keep  my  commandments:"  and 
again,  "  He  that  hath  my  commandments, 
and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me: 


PRAYER.  125 

and  he  that  loveth  me  shall  be  loved  of  my 
Father,  and  I  will  love  him,  and  will  mani- 
fest myself  to  him.''  John  xiv.  15,  21. 

PRAYER. 

Blessed  Redeemer,  I  bless  thee  for  love  so 
free,  so  sovereign,  so  costly  to  thyself,  but  so 
rich  in  benefits  to  men.  May  I  love  to  con- 
template thy  love  that  shines  so  brightly  in 
all  that  thou  wast  pleased  to  undertake  to 
accomplish  for  us,  and  in  all  that  thou  didst 
do  and  suffer.  And  blessed  be  thy  name, 
that  we  are  sure  that  the  same  love  still 
dwells  in  thy  heart,  and  that  in  the  last  day 
it  will  appear  in  all  its  overflowing  fulness. 
May  I  make  a  suitable  return  of  gratitude 
and  love.  Take  entire  possession  of  my 
heart,  and  reign  over  all  my  affections  and 
powers,  and  draw  them  fo»th  to  thyself 
by  the  constraining  influence  of  thy  Holy 
Spirit. 

God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named,  grant  me,  according  to  the 
riches  of  thy  glory,  to  be  strengthened  with 
might  by  thy  Spirit  in  the  inner  man ;  that 
Christ  may  dwell  in  my  heart  by  faith;  that 
I,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be 
able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints,  what  is  the 
breadth,  and  depth,  and  length,  and  height; 
and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  I  may  be  filled  with  all  the 
fulness  of  God.  Now  unto  thee  who  art  able 
to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  I 
11 


126  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that 
worketh  in  thy  saints;  unto  thee  be  glory  in 
the  Church,  by  Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all 
ages,  world  without  end.  Amen.  Ephes. 
iii.   14-21. 


MEDITATION  XVII. 

SELF-EXAMINATION. 

I  HAVE  contemplated  the  cross  of  my  Re- 
deemer, and  meditated  on  the  great  truths 
connected  with  it;  and  by  so  doing  I  have 
remembered  him,  in  accordance  with  the  end 
of  that  ordinance,  for  which  I  am  endeavour- 
ing to  make  preparation.  It  now  behoves 
me  to  attend  to  a  particular  duty  prescribed 
in  the  institution  :  "  But  let  a  man  examine 
himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread,  and 
drink  of  that  cup. "  The  duty  doubtless 
means  that  he  should,  by  the  due  perfor- 
mance of  it,  ascertain  his  right  to  a  seat  at 
the  sacred  table. 

PRAYER. 

0  thou  omniscient  and  heart  searching  God, 
I  am  about  entering  on  a  most  important 
duty;  to  inquire  into,  and  determine,  my  real 
character  and  condition,  in  thy  sight.  I  need 
thine  aid;  and  I  beseech  thee  to  compose  and 
to  enlighten  my  mind.     Graciously  grant  the 


SELF-EXAMINATION.  127 

aids  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  bear  witness  Avith 
my  spirit,  that  I  am  thy  child,  renewed  and 
sanctified  by  thy  grace.  Let  me  not  deceive 
myself  with  a  name  to  live,  if  I  be  dead. 
Undeceive  me,  if  I  be  deceived.  But,  if  I 
am  a  renewed  creatm'e,  help  me  to  ascertain 
and  determine  the  fact,  that  1  may  rejoice  in 
my  filial  relation  to  thee,  my  God.  Hear  me, 
for  Christ's  sake.     Amen. 

The  first  question,  then,  which  I  have  to 
propose  to  myself  is  this:  "Am  I  a  Chris- 
tian?'^ True,  I  was  descended  from  Chris- 
tian parents,  born  in  the  visible  church,  and 
baptized  when  an  infant,  in  the  name  of  the 
sacred  Three.  But,  while  I  should  be  grate- 
ful for  the  privilege  connected  with  my  birth, 
and  duly  appreciate  my  infant  dedication  to 
God,  in  the  rite  of  baptism,  I  must  remember 
that  neither  my  birth  nor  my  baptism  will 
entitle  me  to  a  seat  at  the  Lord's  table.  The 
question  proposed,  imports  much  more  than 
these  outward  privileges.  To  be  a  Christian 
is  to  be  born  again,  regenerated  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  united  to  Jesus  Christ  by  a  true 
and  living  faith.  Am  I  a  Christian  in  this 
sense  of  the  name?  Certainly  I  was  not  born 
such.  I  came  into  the  world  with  the  same 
depraved  nature  which  others  inherited;,  a 
child  of  wrath  even  as  they. 

Was  I  ever  convinced  of  this  lamentable 
fact?  Were  my  eyes  opened  by  the  Spirit, 
to  see  my  sinful  and  lost  condition,  as  dead 
in  sin,  and  condemned  by  the  divine  law  to 


12S  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

everlasting  misery?  Trembling  under  the 
painful  conviction,  did  I  strive,  by  sorrow 
and  reformation,  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come?  Have  I  seen  the  futility  of  my  own 
endeavours  and  works  to  recommend  me  to 
God,  and  save  my  soul?  Do  I  understand 
the  provision  made  in  the  gospel  for  the  gra- 
tuitous justification  of  sinners  ?  Has  my  mind 
been  enlightened  to  see  the  fulness,  the  suit- 
ableness, and  all-sufficiency  of  Jesus  Christ  as 
a  Saviour?  Do  I  believe  that  he  is  both  able 
and  willing  to  save  all  that  will  come  to  him? 
And,  under  this  belief,  did  I  apply  to  him 
for  his  salvation  ?  Do  I  rely  on  his  merits 
for  acceptance  with  God?  Have  I  taken 
him  to  be  my  Redeemer,  and  committed  my 
so.ulj'and  my  eternal  interests,  into  his  hands, 
and  devoted  myself  to  his  service? 

Have  I  experienced  a  change  in  my  nature, 
and  been  quickened  into  a  new  spiritual  life? 
Have  old  things  passed  away,  and  all  things 
become  new?  Are  my  views,  feelings,  and 
affections  changed?  Have  I  new  views  of 
God,  of  his  law,  of  myself,  of  sin,  of  duty, 
and  of  Christ?  Do  I  see  the  comparative 
emptiness  of  worldly  things,  and  the  infinite 
value  of  heavenly  and  eternal  things?  Has 
the  current  of  my  affections  been  changed  ? 
Have  they  been  turned  from  earth  to  heaven? 
from  the  creature  to  the  Creator?  Do  I  love 
things  which  I  formerly  hated,  and  hate 
things  which  I  formerly  loved?  Is  sin  hate- 
ful to  me,  not  only  on  account  of  its  injurious 
consequences,  but  on  account  of  its  vile  and 


SELF-EXAMINATION.  129 

odious  nature,  as  a  breach  of  the  divine  law, 
and  as  being  offensive  to  God?  Is  hoUness 
truly  lovely  in  my  sight,  and  do  I  hunger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness?  Do  I  love  the  in- 
spired volume,  and  make  it  the  man  of  my 
counsel  and  my  delight  ?  Do  I  always  pray 
for  the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  whenever 
I  read  it,  saying  with  David,  "  open  thou 
mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wondrous 
things  out  of  thy  law?  "  Has  God  condes- 
cended to  hear  my  prayers?  and  do  I,  at 
times,  enjoy  communion  with  him  in  that 
exercise  ?  Do  I  love  to  pray,  and  find  that  I 
cannot  live  without  prayer? 

Has  my  conduct  undergone  a  great  change? 
Have  1  a  new  and  a  different  end  in  life  ? 
Is  it  the  glory  of  God  ?  Am  I  watchful  over 
my  actions,  guarding  against  temptation  and 
sin  ?  Am  I,  in  a  good  degree,  successful  in 
my  endeavours  to  do  the  will  of  God  ?  Do  I 
indulge  myself  in  no  sin,  and  allow  myself 
to  live  in  the  omission  of  no  known  duty  ? 
Is  it  my  sincere  desire  and  prayer  to  God  to 
be  sanctified  in  my  whole  nature?  Do  I  take 
pleasure  in  the  expectation,  that  hereafter  I 
shall  be  freed  from  all  sin,  and  made  per- 
fectly holy  in  the  Divine  image  ?  Do  I  desire 
heaven,  not  merely  as  a  refuge  from  evil,  and 
as  a  place  of  happiness,  but  as  a  place  where 
hohness  reigns,  and  from  which  all  sin  is  for 
ever  banished  ? 

If  I  can  answer  these  questions  affirma- 
tively^ I  may  regard  myself  as  a  Chris- 
tian. 


130  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

All  advanced  believer  finds  but  little  diffi- 
culty in  deciding  his  claim  to  the  Christian 
character.  He  has  become  so  familiar  with 
the  nature  of  the  Spirit's  gracious  operations 
on  the  human  soul,  and  with  the  marks  of 
regeneration;  and,  by  frequent  self-examina- 
tion, become  so  well  acquainted  with  himself, 
that  the  first  question  is  soon  settled.  But 
there  is  another  .question  that  claims  his  in- 
quiry, which  he  finds  not  to  be  so  easy  to 
determine.  It  is  this:  Am  I  a  growing 
Christian? 

Some  believers  advance  so  sensibly  in  the 
divine  life,  that  this  too  is  a  question  easily 
determined.  But  how  is  it  with  me?  Ami 
making  progress  in  the  Christian  life  ?  Let 
me  inquire.  A  comparison  of  my  attain- 
ments at  different  periods  of  time,  may  fur- 
nish evidence.  When  I  look  back  upon  the 
secret  workings  of  my  heart,  do  I  find  that  I 
have  gained  victories  over  certain  sins;  for 
example,  over  pride,  vanity,  worldly-minded- 
ness,  unbelief,  self-righteousness?  Do  I  see 
more  clearly  my  entire  dependence  on  Jesus 
Christ  for  righteousness  and  strength?  and  do 
I  depend  more  simply  and  entirely  on  him  for 
every  thing,  wilhng  to  give  him  all  the  glory 
of  my  salvation  ?  Am  I  more  humble?  Do 
I  grow  in  heavenly-mindedness,  and  in  spirit- 
uality of  mind?  -What  other  corruptions  of 
heart  are  mortified  and  subdued?  Am  I 
more  devoted  to  God  ?  Do  I  love  his  glory 
more?  Do  I  take  a  more  Uvely  interest  in 
the  prosperity  of  the  Redeemer's  cause  ?  pray 


SELF-EXAMINATION.  131 

more  for  it,  and  do  more  for  its  advancement 
in  the  world? 

By  attending  to  such  inquiries,  and  others 
of  a  similar  kind,  I  may  determine  the  second 
question. 

But  there  is  another  inquiry  that  ought  to 
be  instituted,  in  making  preparation  for  ^ 
profitable  communion  season.  It  is  my  pri- 
vilege to  approach  my  Lord  and  Saviour  at 
his  table,  with  humble  and  believing  prayer 
for  every  thing  I  need.  Let  me,  then,  in- 
quire what  sins  too  much  prevail,  and  in 
what  graces  I  am  most  deficient;  that  I  may 
beseech  him  to  mortify  and  subdue  the  one, 
and  increase  and  strengthen  the  other.  What 
are  those  sins?  Does  pride,  or  vanity,  or 
ambition,  or  carnality,  or  lust,  or  worldUness, 
or  unbelief,  afilict  my  soul  ?  Let  me  lament 
them,  whatever  they  may  be,  before  my  Re- 
deemer, and  beseech  him  to  crucify  them  on 
his  cross.  In  what  graces  am  I  deficient? 
Is  it  humility,  or  faith,  or  heavenly-minded- 
ness,  or  freedom  in  speaking  on  religious 
subjects,  or  spirituahty  of  mind,  or  qualifica- 
tions for  my  particular  work? 

What  is  my  situation  in  life?  What  rela- 
tions claim  an  interest  in  my  pra^^ers?  My 
wife,  my  husband,  my  parents,  my  children, 
my  brothers,  my  sisters?  What  do  they  need? 
Let  me  inquire,  that  I  may  remember  them, 
at  the  table,  and  present  their  cases  before 
my  gracious  Redeemer. 


132  SACRAMENTAL  MEDITATIONS, 


PRAYER. 

Accept,  0  my  God,  my  thanks  for  any  as- 
sistance afforded  to  me  in  conducting  the  ex- 
amination of  myself.  May  the  result  to  which 
I  have  come  meet  with  thy  approbation.  I 
pray  that  the  evidences  of  my  being  in  a 
gracious  state  may  increase  in  strength,  and 
the  evidence  of  my  growth  in  grace  become 
clearer  and  more  satisfying.  Graciously  grant 
that  I  may  be  led  to  a  more  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  myself;  that,  knowing  my  wants 
and  necessities,  I  may  present  to  thee  suit- 
able prayers.  I  ask  m  the  name  of  Christ. 
Amen. 


MEDITATION  XVIII. 

PENITENT    RECOLLECTION    OF    SINS SELF- 
DEDICATION. 

"And  you  hath  he  quickened,  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  And  were  by 
nature  children  of  wrath,  even  as  others.'^ 
Ephes.  ii.  1,  3.  Such  is  the  language  of 
an  inspired  apostle.  Believing  it  to  be  in- 
spired, I  cannot  avoid  the  belief  that  I  was 
born  in  a  state  of  sin  and  guilt;  that  my 
nature  was  depraved;  and  that,  coming  into 
existence  in  such  a  state,  and  with  such 


RECOLLECTION    OF    SIN.  133 

a  nature,  I  was,  from  the  commencement  of 
my  being,  under  condemnation. 

Tiie  truth  of  this  apostohc  statement,  has 
been  confirmed  by  my  whole  hfe.  How 
early  did  the  sinful  bias  of  my  nature  begin 
to  appear  !  Surely,  if  my  nature  had  been 
pure  and  inclined  to  good,  impatience,  self- 
will,  and  selfisluiess,  would  not  have  so  soon 
marred  the  innocence  of  my  childhood.  The 
impure  fountain  could  not  but  discover  its 
impurity.  The  root  of  bitterness  within  of 
course  brought  forth  corresponding  and  evil 
fruit. 

Youth  succeeded  childhood,  and  gave 
clearer  evidences  of  my  sinful  nature.  Pride, 
ambition,  hatred,  and  revenge,  presented 
mournful  proofs,  that  I  was  a  fallen  creature. 
As  I  advanced  in  years,  sin  grew  with  my 
growth,  and  strengthened  with  my  strength. 
Evil  habits  became  confirmed,  and  the  do- 
minion of  wicked  passion,  established.  In- 
stead of  following  the  pious  in  the  straight 
and  narrow  path  of  duty  and  life,  I  prefer- 
red going  with  the  multitude,  in  the  broad 
road  of  sin  and  destruction.  God  was  not  in 
all  my  thoughts.  His  all  searching  eye  was 
disregarded ;  and,  if  I  could  only  hide  myself 
from  my  fellow  creatures,  I  imagined  I  might 
practise  evil  without  detection.  Thus  I  lived 
without  God.  I  could  He  down  at  night 
without  committing  myself  to  the  care  and 
protection  of  his  gracious  providence,  during 
the  silent  watches  of  the  night ;  and  rise  up' 
from  my  bed  in  the  morning,  without  thank- 
12 


134  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

ing  him  for  my  preservation  from  harm  and 
evil,  during  the  defenceless  state  of  sleep,  and 
without  invoking  his  blessing  on  the  business 
of  the  day.  What  ingratitude,  and  thought- 
lessness, and  folly ! 

How  sadly  did  I  neglect  and  abuse  the 
privileges  vouchsafed  to  me!  The  Bible 
was  put  into  my  hands,  but  I  laid  it  aside; 
and,  instead  of  reading  and  studying  it,  to 
form  an  acquaintance  with  its  wonderful  con- 
tents, I  preferred  other  books,  and  sometimes 
books  productive  of  evil  impressions.  The 
Sabbatti  came;  but  1  heeded  not  its  sacred 
import  and  design,  and  suffered  its  precious 
hours  to  pass  away  without  improving  them, 
by  performing  their  appropriate  duties.  And 
how  many  of  them  were  desecrated,  by  doing 
what  was  unlawful  to  be  done  on  God's  holy 
day !  I  went  to  his  house,  but  my  heart  was 
not  prepared  for  its  solemn  worship.  Plow 
inattentive  to  the  word  preached !  Where 
were  my  eyes  and  my  thoughts?  How 
wandering  and  irreverent!  How  often  did  I 
dare  to  indulge  a  sleepy  humour  in  the  sanc- 
tuary !  And  when  I  rose  up  to  pray,  how 
did  I  insult  infinite  Majesty,  by  turning  as  it 
were  my  back  to  Him,  and  worshipping 
some  creature;  or  even  presenting  myself  as 
an  object  of  worship !  Why  was  I  not  con- 
sumed for  my  impiety,  as  were  the  sons  of 
Aajon,  when  they  offered  strange  fire  before 
the  Lord?  Lev.  x.  1.  Amazing  forbearance 
of  my  God! 

How  innumerable  have   been  my  sins! 


BECOLLECTION    OP    SIN.  135 

Every  day,  and  hour,  and  minute  have  I 
offended.  The  want  of  love  to  God  was  one 
continued  sin,  staining  with  guilt  every  mo- 
ment of  my  life.  A  creature  in  a  state  of 
enmity  with  his  Creator,  how  horrible! 

In  the  review  of  my  hfe  I  can  call  to  mind 
particular  and  great  sins,  for  which  I  ought 
especially  to  humble  myself  before  God. 
There,  at  that  early  day,  I  committed  an  act 
which  I  knew  to  be  wrong,  and  which  I 
was  careful   to  conceal  from    human    eyes. 

Then and  then  — — .   (This  may  be  filled 

up  by  the  reader  for  himself)  At  such  a 
time  I  was  bent  on  the  commission  of  a  great 
sin;  and  although  held  back  by  a  distinct 
warning  of  conscience  not  to  persist  in  my 
purpose,  yet  I  did  persist,  and  should  have 
accomplished  it,  had  not  God  interposed  by 
his  providence,  and  mercifully  saved  me  from 
contracting  such  aggravated  guilt.  0!  how 
often  have  I  sinned  against  the  strivings  of 
the  Holy  Spirit ! 

How  criminal  has  been  my  life!  How 
many  3^ears  did  I  live  without  God,  without 
a  saving  interest  in  Christ,  and  without  hope 
in  the  world !  And  all  the  time  I  was  be- 
coming more  and  more  depraved,  more  en- 
slaved to  the  world  and  Satan,  and  more 
averse  from  God  and  holiness.  Had  not  God 
restrained  me  by  his  providence  and  grace; 
had  he  left  me  to  the  impulse  of  my  native 
and  contracted  depravity,  to  what  lengths  of 
iniquity  might  I  not  have  gone!  Impelled 
by  evil  desires  and  wicked  passions,  I  might, 


136  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

in  the  frenzy  of  sin,  have  perpetrated  an  of- 
fence^ that  would  have  clouded  my  reputa- 
tion, and  inibittered  all  my  days!  Thanks  to 
God  for  laying  restraints  on  my  evil  desires 
and  wicked  passions. 

Now,  for  all  the  sins  I  have  committed, 
attended  with  such  aggravating  circumstan- 
ces, and  the  great  guilt  I  have  contracted,  I 
acknowledge  that  I  deserve  to  die;  and  if,  at 
any  time  before  the  exercise  of  repentance 
and  faith,  I  had  been  removed  from  the 
world,  with  my  sins  unpardoned,  I  must 
have  gone  down  to  eternal  perdition. 

"  But  thanks  be  to  God,  who,  for  his  great 
love  wherewith  he  loved  me,  even  when  I 
was  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened  me  toge- 
ther with  Christ,  and  saved  me  by  his  grace." 
Ephes.  ii.  4,  5.  And  now  pardoned  by  the 
blood  of  my  Saviour,  and  justified  by  his 
righteousness,  I  feel  that  I  am  accepted  of 
God,  and  blessed  with  hope;  as  really  and 
fully  as  if,  in  my  own  person,  1  had  satisfied 
his  justice  for  my  sins,  and  fulfilled  all  the 
righteous  dem.ands  of  his  holy  law. 

Alas!  this  is  not  all  that  I  have  to  confess. 
True,  since  my  conversion  by  divine  grace, 
sin  has  not  reigned  over  me,  as  it  did  for- 
merly. Its  dominion  has  been  broken,  so 
that  I  am  enabled  to  serve  my  gracious  Lord 
and  Redeemer,  with  a  sincere  obedience. 
Yet  how  feeble  my  exertions  and  imperfect 
my  obedience  !  How  imperfectly  is  my  na- 
ture sanctified,  and  how  strong  still  are  the 
remains  of  sin  within  me  !     Well  may  I  ex- 


RECOLLECTION    OP    SIN.  137 

claim  with  the  holy  apostle,  "  0  wretched 
man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death  !  "  Rom.  vii.  24. 
How  languid  has  been  my  love,  how  feeble 
my  zeal,  how  sluggish  my  exertions  in  the 
service  of  my  divine  Master!  Ah!  had  I 
been  more  sanctified,  how  much  more  should 
I  have  done  to  honor  him!  what  opportuni- 
ties for  doing  good  that  passed  away,  would 
have  been  improved!  how  would  my  light 
have  shined  forth  to  God's  glory !  and  what 
advances  in  the  divine  life  should  I  have 
made !  I  blush  in  the  review  of  my  Christian 
life.  It  becomes  me  to  fall  down  before  God 
in  the  dust,  and  beseech  him  to  forgive  my 
short-comings  in  duty,  the  coldness  of  my 
love,  the  languor  of  my  zeal,  the  feebleness 
of  my  exertions,  and  my  many  sins;  and  to 
quicken  me  by  his  Spirit,  to  cause  me  to 
grow  rapidly  in  grace,  to  inspire  me  with 
warmer  love  and  zeal,  and  to  enable  me  to 
bring  forth  more  fruit  to  his  glory. 

To  these  penitent  recollections  of  past  sins, 
is  to  be  added  the  renewal  of  my  covenant 
engagements.  By  the  sacred  elements  in  the 
Lord's  supper  a  covenant  is  to  be  sealed; 
and,  therefore,  as  I  have  already  entered  into 
covenant  with  my  God,  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  it  will  be  proper  to  recollect 
this  solemn  transaction,  and  to  renew  it,  be- 
fore I  approach  the  sacred  table,  that  I  may 
be  prepared  to  renew  it  there,  and  ratify  it 
with  the  appointed  seals. 


138  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITA-f IONS. 


PRAYER. 

0  thou  holy  God,  in  the  review  of  my  Ufe 
I  feel  ashamed  before  thee.  Behold,  I  was 
conceived  in  sin,  and  brought  forth  in  ini- 
quity. Psal.  li.  5.  Depraved  by  nature,  I  was 
born  a  child  of  wrath.  Ephes.  ii.  3.  How 
early  was  this  depravity  indicated  in  my 
childhood,  and  what  clearer  evidence  of  the 
mournful  truth  appeared  in  my  youth  !  Ail 
the  workings  of  sin  in  my  heart,  during  those 
early  periods  of  life,  were  distinctly  seen  by 
thy  omniscient  eye.  And,  alas!  how  did  I 
wander  from  thee  and  the  path  of  duty,  as  I 
advanced  in  age!  Instead  of  loving  thee 
with  all  my  heart,  and  delighting  in  doing 
thy  will,  my  iieart  was  in  a  state  of  enmity 
with  thee,  my  Creator,  Preserver,  and  Bene- 
factor; and,  under  the  promptings  of  a  heart 
so  wicked,  I  was  living  in  rebellion  against 
thy  sovereign  authority,  and  openly  violating 
thy  holy  and  reasonable  commandments. 
How  innumerable  have  been  my  transgres- 
sions !  How  many  years  I  lived  in  this  un- 
natural and  wicked  way!  How  my  guilt 
was  accumulating,  and  to  what  awful  danger 
I  was  exposing  myself! 

Merciful  God,  I  thank  thee  for  thy  patience 
and  forbearance.  I  bless  thee  for  the  re- 
straints of  thy  providence  and  grace,  that 
kept  me  back  from  the  commission  of  those 
great  sins,  to  which  my  depraved  nature 
prompted  me.     And  1  magnify  the  riches  of 


PRATER.  139 

thy  mercy,  by  which,  notwithstanding  all  my 
gailt  and  increasing  depravity,  notwithstand- 
ing my  neglect  of  thy  word  and  of  prayer, 
and  my  inattention  to  thy  preached  gospel, 
and  shameful  behaviour  in  thy  house,  thou 
wast  pleased  to  lead  me  to  repentance  and 
faith,  by  the  gracious  influences  of  thy  Spirit, 
to  forgive  all  my  sins,  to  justify  me  freely 
through  the  righteousness  of  thy  Son,  and  to 
adopt  me,  once  a  wandering  prodigal,  into  thy 
family,  as  a  child  and  heir  of  a  heavenly  king- 
dom. Oh!  amazing  riches  of  grace!  How 
can  I  praise  thee,  0  my  God,  enough  for  all 
that  thou  hast  done  for  me  a  worthless  sinner  ? 
Here,  take  my  heart,  and  make  it  wholly 
thine.  Reign  in  and  over  me  for  ever;  and 
bind  my  heart  to  thyself  in  the  most  fervent 
love.  All  this  I  ask  in  the  name  of  Christ. 
Amen. 

SELF-DEDICATION-. 

And  now,  blessed  God,  admiring  thine  in- 
finite condescension,  and  sensible  of  my  great 
unworthiness,  I  come,  invited  by  thee,  to 
renew  that  covenant,  in  which  I  have  taken 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  my 
God  and  portion  for  ever;  and  in  which  I 
have  given  myself  to  thee,  as  thy  rightful 
property,  to  be  thy  obedient  servant  and  lov- 
ing child,  for  ever  and  ever.  I  engage  in 
this  wonderful  transaction,  relying  on  thy 
grace  to  help  me  to  fulfil  my  engagements. 
Grant  me,  0  my  God  and  Father,  the  aids  of 
thy  Spirit,   that  I  may  be  faithful   to  my 


140  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

I 

covenant  engagements,  until  death.  And  to  | 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  be  eternal  *: 
praise  and  glory.     Amen.  ! 


MEDITATION  XIX. 

THE     SABBATH     MORNING. 

The  morning  of  the  Sabbath  has  come ;  the 
blessed  day  on  which,  in  addition  to  the 
usual  religious  services,  I  am  to  take  my  seat 
at  the  table  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour ;  to  hold 
communion  with  him,  and  his  chosen  people, 
by  feeding  on  that  spiritual  and  heavenly 
repast,  which  he  has  provided  at  so  great  a 
price.     What  a  privilege!  what  an  honour! 

Am  I  prepared  for  the  feast  ?  It  has  been 
my  endeavour  to  make  the  required  pre- 
paration, by  attending  to  the  prescribed 
duties.  Regarding  the  supper  as  an  institu- 
tion of  the  Lord,  I  design  to  partake  of  it  in 
obedience  to  his  will. 

In  conformity  to  its  end,  I  have  remem- 
bered my  Redeemer.  Standing  at  the  foot  of 
his  cross,  I  have  contemplated  the  amazing 
sacrifice  offered  on  it,  for  the  sins  of  a  lost 
world;  and,  in  its  light,  beheld  the  truths 
that  radiate  from  this  great  centre  of  the 
divine  system,  and  of  the  divine  dispensa- 
tions.    The  lamentable  cause  of  this  astonish- 


THE    SABBATH    MORNING.  141 

ing  spectacle,  exhibited  to  the  universe,  has 
passed  in  review;  the  apostasy,  ruin,  and 
helplessness  of  our  race.  I  have  contempla- 
ted the  bright  display  of  God's  perfections, 
his  justice,  his  wisdom,  and  his  love,  beaming 
from  the  cross. 

The  infinite  and  complex  person  of  the 
Redeemer,  embracing  both  his  human  and 
divine  nature;  so  wonderfully  adapted  to  the 
great  work,  which  no  man,  nor  angel  could 
accomplish,  but  which  he  achieved,  I  have 
devoutly  considered.  I  have  thought  of  his 
infinite  condescension,  in  accepting  the  office 
of  Mediator  between  God,  the  offended 
Sovereign,  and  man,  his  rebellious  creature, 
and  in  anticipating  so  joyfully  the  accom- 
plishment of  it  in  the  appointed  time.  I  have 
thought  too,  of  his  profound  humiliation,  in 
making  himself  of  no  reputation,  by  taking 
upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  being 
made  in  the  likeness,  not  of  an  archangel, 
but  of  men ;  and,  in  the  fashion  of  a  man, 
humbling  himself,  so  as  to  become  obedient 
to  the  law,  not  only  in  its  preceptive,  but 
penal  claims,  and  suflTering  even  unto  death, 
and,  that  the  most  agonizing  and  disgraceful, 
the  death  of  the  cross. 

The  purity  and  perfection  of  his  human 
nature;  his  holy  and  spotless  life,  beaming 
with  love  to  God  and  love  to  man;  accord- 
ant with  all  the  requirements  of  the  divine 
law,  and  presenting  a  finished  and  faultless 
example  to  all  believers,  have  been  reviewed. 

I  have  dwelt  on  the  sufferings  of  my  Lord^ 


142  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

beginning  with  his  birth  and  terminating  only 
with  his  life; — on  their  variety,  arising  from 
the  opposition  and  malice  of  so  many  bitter 
enemies; — on  their  severity  in  the  manner  of 
his  death: — and  on  their  unutterable  and  over- 
whelming nature,  produced  by  God's  wrath 
against  sin,  in  the  garden  of  Gethsemane, 
where  no  human  hand  was  seen  to  afflict 
him,  and  on  the  cross,  during  the  three  hours 
of  preternatural  darkness. 

I  have  considered  the  dreadful,  degrading, 
and  destructive  evil  of  sin ;  manifested  in  the 
insult  it  offers  to  the  infinite  Majesty  of  God, 
in  the  violation  of  his  most  excellent  law;  so 
sadly  apparent  in  the  history  of  man,  for- 
saking the  worship  of  God,  giving  himself  up 
to  the  vilest  idolatry,  and  debasing  himself 
by  unatural  and  beastly  crimes;  and  espe- 
cially manifested  in  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  God's  own  and  well  beloved  Son. 

The  reality  and  certainty  of  the  resurrec- 
tion of  my  blessed  Lord,  I  have  contemplated 
with  joy,  as  demonstrating  his  divine  charac- 
ter, and  proving,  with  the  broad  seal  of 
heaven,  the  perfection  of  his  work :  and,  with 
his  wondering  apostles,  I  have  gazed  at  him, 
ascending  into  heaven;  attended  with  a 
bright  retinue  of  angels,  passing  by  worlds 
and  systems,  with  amazing  speed,  to  the 
highest  heavens,  and  there  welcomed  to  his 
reward,  as  the  conqueror  of  sin,  and  death, 
and  hell. 

I  have  beheld  him  taking  his  seat  at  the 
right  hand  of  God;  invested  with  universal 


THE    SABBATH    MORNING.  143 

dominion  over  all  worlds;  appointed  Head 
over  all  things  to  his  church ;  and  worship- 
ped by  all  the  hosts  of  heaven  as  their  Su- 
preme Lord.     I  rejoice  in  his  reign. 

I  have  contemplated  him  as  the  great  High 
Priest  of  the  church,  as  our  forerunner  and 
advocate;  as  ever  living  to  intercede  with  the 
Father  for  his  people;  that  all  the  blessings 
of  this  life,  and  of  the  life  to  come,  purchased 
by  his  death,  may  be  secured  to  them. 

Regarding  my  Redeemer  as  the  appointed 
judge  both  of  quick  and  dead,  I  have  antici- 
pated his  second  coming  to  judge  the  world 
in  righteousness,  and  to  consummate  the 
salvation  of  his  redeemed  people. 

On  the  wonderful  love  of  Christ,  so  free 
and  sovereign,  so  costly  and  rich,  I  have 
meditated,  and  seen  how  it  was  the  spring  of 
all  that  he  did  and  suffered  for  his  people. 
It  was  love  that  moved  him  to  become  our 
Redeemer;  love  brought  him  down  from 
heaven  to  earth;  love  carried  him  through 
a  life  of  poverty  and  sorrow,  affliction  and 
suffering;  and  love  sustained  him  in  the 
agony  of  the  garden,  and  under  the  over- 
whelming horrors  of  the  three  last  hours  on 
the  cross.  And  when  he  arose  from  the 
dead,  the  same  flame  of  love  was  burning  in 
his  heart.  It  ascended  with  him  to  heaven; 
and  there  it  burns  in  his  bosom,  and  will 
burn  for  ever. 

To  prepare  for  a  profitable  communion 
season,  I  have  inquired  into  my  right  to  a 
seat  at  the  sacred  table,  by  examining  my 


144  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

claims  to  the  Christian  character,  my  progress 
in  the  divine  Ufe,  and  what  sins  I  have  to 
lament  before  my  Lord,  and  what  blessings  I 
ought  to  seek  from  his  bounty. 

I  have  also  endeavoured  penitently  to  re- 
collect and  confess  the  sins  of  my  life,  to  hum- 
ble myself  before  God,  and  to  implore  his  for- 
giveness. And,  moreover,  I  have  renewed 
that  covenant  with  the  Sacred  Three,  which 
is  to  be  sealed  at  the  Lord's  table. 

Thus  having  endeavoured  to  make  due 
preparation  for  the  table  of  my  Lord,  I  may, 
I  trust,  approach  to  it,  with  holy  boldness 
and  believing  confidence.  In  obedience  to 
his  command  1  am  going  to  a  feast  prepared 
by  his  love;  where  he  is  to  feast  me  with  his 
broken  body  and  shed  blood.  There  he  will 
put  syniholicaUy  into  my  hands  the  price  he 
paid  for  my  eternal  redemption.  With  this 
price  in  my  hands,  while  feeding  on  his  body 
broken  for  me,  and  his  blood  shed  for  9ne, 
with  what  confidence  may  I  implore  God  to 
forgive  all  my  sins,  and  to  bestow  on  me 
whatever  blessings  I  need!  Away  unbelief. 
Let  me  approach  to  the  sacred  table  with 
confident  ilnth;  and  beseech  my  Lord  to  in- 
crease my  faith,  to  inflame  my  love,  to  enkin- 
dle my  zeal,  to  augment  my  strength;  to 
make  me  more  heavenly  and  spiritually 
minded,  and  in  all  respects  a  more  exem- 
plary disciple.  He  has  infinite  fulness  to 
impart.  We  are  not  straitened  in  him,  but 
in  ourselves.  0!  for  a  warmer  heart,  for 
more  expanded  desires,  for  greater  hungering 


PRAYER*  145 

and  thirsting  after  righteousness,  that  I  may- 
be filled.  His  inviting  language  is,  "eat,  0 
friends;  drink,  yea,  drink  abundantly,  0  be- 
loved." Song  V.  1.  "Open  th}'-  month  wide, 
and  I  will  fill  it."  Psal.  Ixxxi.  10.  John 
XV.  7. 

PRAYER. 

My  God,  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  have,  by  meditation  and  prayer, 
endeavoured  to  make  preparation  for  a  seat 
at  the  table  of  my  Redeemer.  I  have  re- 
membered him,  by  contemplating  his  original 
dignity,  by  considering  his  infinite  condescen- 
sion and  profound  humiliation,  his  holy  life, 
his  bitter  and  overwhelming  sufferings,  and 
his  shamefnl  death.  I  have  beheld  him 
rising  from  the  dead,  ascending  into  heaven, 
seating  himself  at  thy  right  hand,  and  coming 
to  judge  the  world,  and  finish  the  salvation 
of  his  people.  I  have  dwelt  on  his  amazing 
love,  and  its  wonderful  results.  0  !  pardon, 
gracious  God,  the  coldness  of  my  heart  in 
meditating  on  these  great  and  interesting 
truths.  Let  them  ever  dwell  in  my  memory, 
so  as  to  warm  my  heart,  enkindle  my  love, 
and  bind  m,e  to  my  Maker's  service. 

I  have  endeavoured,  0  Lord,  to  examine 
myself  agreeably  to  the  direction  of  the  insti- 
tution, and  to  renew  my  covenant  with  my 
God;  and  I  humbly  hope,  that  the  result  of 
my  inquiries  is  in  accordance  with  truth,  that 
I  am  in  a  gracious  state,  and  entitled,  through 


146  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

mercy,  to  a  seat  at  the  holy  table.  0  !  that 
my  evidences  were  brighter,  so  that  I  might 
rejoice  in  assured  hope. 

But,  with  all  my  defects,  may  I  not,  blessed 
God,  come  with  boldness  to  the  holy  supper, 
and  expect  to  meet  my  Saviour,  and  hold 
communion  with  him?  Assist  me,  by  thy 
grace;  strengthen  my  faith;  compose  my 
mind;  and  enable  me  to  perform  the  appro- 
priate duties,  when  I  shall  occupy  my  seat, 
and  partake  of  the  heavenly  banquet.  Mer- 
ciful God,  I  beseech  thee  to  hear  my  prayer, 
forgive  my  sins,  give  enlargement  to  my  de- 
sires and  expectations,  and  vouchsafe  to  me 
and  to  my  fellow  communicants,  a  profitable 
and  delightful  communion  season.  Hear 
me,  0  God,  I  entreat  thee,  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen. 


MEDITATION    XX 


AT    THE    TABLE. 

Here  I  am,  seated  at  this  sacred  table,  to 
hold  communion  with  my  fellow  disciples, 
and  with  my  Lord  and  Saviour!  What  a 
privilege!  What  an  honour!  How  thankful 
should  I  be  for  the  grace  I  have  received ! 

I  am  indeed  unworthy  of  the  place  I  oc- 
cupy.   But  m}'^  Redeemer  bade  me  come, 


AT  THE  TABLE.  14? 

and  take  my  seat  at  this  heavenly  banquet ; 
and,  in  obedience  to  his  command,  I  have 
come  to  feed  upon  the  bread,  and  receive  the 
water  of  Hfe.  May  he  grant  to  me  and  my 
fellow  communicants  his  gracious  presence! 
May  he  unveil  to  us  his  fulness  and  glory ! 
May  we  sit  under  his  shadow  with  great 
dehght,  and  find  his  fruit  pleasant  to  our 
taste!  May  our  views  be  enlightened,  and 
our  exercises  sweet,  affectionate  and  hea- 
venly! May  we  be  assisted  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  in  the  great  duty  of  remembering  our 
blessed  Redeemer,  and  of  renewing  our  cove- 
nant engagements. 


THE    BREAD    GIVEN. 

I  take  this  bread,  0  my  Saviour,  as  thy 
body  broken  for  me;  I  eat  it,  as  thou  hast 
commanded,  in  expectation  that,  by  feeding 
upon  it,  my  soul  shall  be  nourished  to  eter- 
nal life;  just  as  my  body  is  sustained  and 
nourished  by  the  common  bread  on  which  I 
daily  feed.  Thy  blessing  makes  common 
bread  effectual,  in  imparting  life  and  strength 
to  my  body;  and  thy  blessing  can  cause  this 
heavenly  bread  to  impart  spiritual  life  to  my 
soul.  Grant,  then,  thy  gracious  blessing; 
and  make  this  a  communion  season  indeed. 
Awaken  my  desires,  increase  my  faith,  and 
enlarge  my  expectations. 

"  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me,*'  is  thy 
injunction.  I  will  remember  thee,  my  Re- 
deemer.    Thy  original  dignity  as  the  Son  of 


148  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

God,  the  great  I  am,  the  true  and  Uving  God, 
the  second  person  in  the  glorious  Trinity,  I 
call  to  mind;  and  how,  in  infinite  condescen- 
sion, thou  wast  pleased  from  all  eternity  to 
assume  the  office  of  Mediator,  between  of- 
fended Majesty  and  his  rebellious  creatures; 
and  with  what  delight  thou  didst  anticipate, 
in  the  revolution  of  ages,  to  undertake  and 
accomplish  the  mighty  work  of  our  redemp- 
tion. I  behold  thee  emptying  thyself,  and 
laying  aside  the  robes  of  majesty,  assuming 
the  form  of  a  servant,  and  taking  upon 
thyself  the  likeness  of  man;  and,  being 
found  in  the  fashion  of  a  man,  humbling  thy- 
self, and  becoming  obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  cross. 

I  look  at  thy  pure,  and  holy,  and  heavenly 
life.  1  see  thee  imparting  instruction  to  thy 
disciples  and  the  people;  refuting  the  false 
interpretations  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees, 
and  rebuking  those  unfaithful  teachers,  who 
were  causing  the  people  to  err.  I  behold 
thee  going  about  doing  good,  working  most 
beneficent  miracles,  healing  all  manner  of 
diseases;  giving  eyes  to  the  blind,  ears  to  the 
deaf,  feet  to  the  lame,  tongues  to  the  dumb, 
and  raising  the  dead ;  and  refusing  aid  to 
none  who  sought  it  in  faith.  I  see  that  holy, 
perfect,  and  finished  example  of  love  to  God 
and  benevolence  to  man,  which  thou  didst 
set,  and  leave  for  the  imitation  of  thy  fol- 
lowers, till  the  end  of  the  world. 

And,  0  my  Saviour,  I  think  of  thy  suffer- 
ings, commencing  with  thy  birth,  and  ending 


THE    BREAD    GIVEN.  149 

only  with  thy  life;  of  thy  poverty  and  humil- 
ity, of  the  opposition  to  thy  ministry  by  per- 
verse men,  and  thy  rejection  by  the  priests 
and  rnlers;  how  thou  wast  slandered  and 
reviled,  stigmatized  as  a  deceiver,  as  a  wine- 
bibber  and  a  glutton,  a  friend  of  publicans 
and  sinners,  as  a  deceiver,  a  blasphemer,  and 
as  stirring  up  sedition.  I  see  thee  betrayed 
with  the  kiss  of  a  traitorous  disciple,  seized, 
bound,  and  rudely  led  by  soldiers  to  the 
palace  of  the  high  priest,  and  there  arraigned 
before  the  council,  insulted,  derided,  con- 
demned to  death,  smitten  with  the  palms  of 
their  hands,  and  spit  upon,  and  buffeted;  and 
denied  by  Peter,  who  a  little  before  had  pro- 
fessed inviolable  attachment  and  fidehty!  I 
behold  thee  at  Pilate's  bar,  accused  by  the 
chief  priests  and  elders,  the  multitude  stirred 
up  to  demand  thy  death,  and  to  prefer  to 
thee  a  robber  and  a  murderer!  I  hear  the 
sentence  of  condemnation  passed  upon  thee 
by  the  Roman  governor,  who  had  previously 
attested  thy  innocence.  Thou  art  scourged, 
and  then  delivered  to  be  crucified.  The 
whole  band  of  soldiers  are  gathered  together 
in  the  common  hall  to  afftict,  deride,  and 
torment  thee !  Thou  art  stripped  of  thy  gar- 
ments, and  covered  with  a  scarlet  robe;  and, 
being  crowned  with  thorns,  with  a  reed  put 
in  thy  hand,  thou  art  mocked  as  the  king  of 
the  Jews!  They  spit  upon  thee,  and  with  the 
reed  taken  from  thy  hand,  they  smite  thee  on 
the  head ! 

13 


150  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

Having  gratified  so  far  their  cruel  and 
malignant  desires,  and  put  on  thy  own  rai- 
ment, they  lead  thee  to  mount  Calvary  for 
crucifixion. 

There  what  do  I  see?  My  Lord  and 
Master,  the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
nailed  to  the  accursed  wood,  and  then  lifted 
up  on  the  cross,  and  crucified  between  two 
thieves,  with  the  utmost  ignominy.  They 
that  pass  by  revile  thee,  wagging  their  heads; 
the  chief  priests,  with  the  scribes  and  elders, 
mock  thee!  Thy  companions  in  suffering 
join  in  deriding  thee ! 

Painful  and  agonizing  as  were  these  suf- 
ferings, what  were  they,  0  my  Redeemer, 
compared  with  what  thou  didst  endure  in  the 
garden,  when  thou  didst  sweat  great  drops  of 
blood,  falling  to  the  ground;  and  during  the 
three  hours  of  preternatural  darkness  on  the 
cross,  when  thy  heart  was  poured  out  hke 
water,  under  the  hidings  of  thy  Father's  face, 
and  the  consuming  fires  of  divine  justice, 
exacting  from  thee  the  punishment  due  to 
the  sins  of  the  world!  My  soul  is  over- 
whelmed with  the  amazing  scene;  I  am  lost 
in  the  immensity  of  thy  sufferings! 

Thus,  I  remember  thee,  my  Lord  and 
Saviour;  suffering  for  my  sins,  dying  that  I 
might  live,  put  to  shame  that  I  might  be  glori- 
fied! 0!  amazing  love!  How  hateful  now 
my  sins,  when  seen  in  the  light  of  the  cross! 
I  mourn,  I  grieve,  I  beg  forgiveness.  I  re- 
nounce my  sins.  Here,  my  Lord,  I  would 
crucify  them   on   thy  cross.     Slay  them,   I 


THE    CUP    GIVEN.  151 

beseech  thee;   purify  me  from   all  iniquity, 
and  make  me  holy,  like  thyself. 


THE    CUP    GIVEN. 

Of  the  cup,  which  has  now  been  given  to 
me,  thou,  my  Saviour,  hast  said,  "  This  cup 
is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood."  I 
receive  it  as  such;  sealing  to  me  the  new 
testament  or  covenant,  which  was  sealed, 
confirmed  by  the  shedding  of  thy  blood  on 
the  cross.  Here  therefore,  at  thy  table,  I 
renew  my  covenant  with  my  God.  I  take 
God,  the  Father,  to  be  my  father  and  recon- 
ciled friend ;  God,  the  Son,  to  be  my  Lord 
and  Saviour,  my  prophet,  priest,  and  king; 
God,  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  dwell  in  my  heart, 
as  a  fountain  of  spiritual  hght  and  sanctifica- 
tion:  this  Triune  God  to  be  my  God  and 
portion,  for  ever.  And  I  surrender  myself 
up  to  God  to  be  his  servant,  his  disciple  and 
follower,  and  his  affectionate  child;  always 
obedient  to  his  will,  yielding  to  the  intima- 
tions of  his  will,  and  the  influences  of  his 
Spirit.  And  by  these  symbols,  appointed 
for  the  purpose,  I  seal  my  engagements  to  be 
the  Lord's. 

Of  the  bread  thou,  my  Lord,  hast  said: 
"This  is  my  body  which  is  broken  for  you;" 
(1  Cor.  xi.  24;)  and  of  the  cup,  "  This  is  my 
iDlood,  of  the  new  testament,  which  is  shed 
for  many  for  the  remission  of  sins."  Matt. 
xxvi.  28.  By  faith  I  take  the  bread  as  thy 
body  broken  for  me;  and  the  cup  as  thy 


152  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

blood  shed  for  the  remission  of  my  sins.  By 
these  consecrated  symbols  thou  art  assuring 
me,  that  I  have  an  interest  in  all  thy  suffer- 
ings, and  in  thy  precious  blood  of  atone- 
ment. I  accept  the  all  gracious  offer,  the 
great  salvation  which  thou  hast  pnrchased 
for  me;  and  I  regard  these  elements  as  out- 
ward signs  and  seals  to  me,  that  I  shall,  in 
due  time,  be  put  in  full  possession  of  all  its 
inestimable  and  eternal  blessings. 

And  now,  blessed  God,  having  renewed 
the  covenant,  and  having  received  the  price 
of  eternal  redemption,  I  feel  emboldened  to 
confess  my  sins,  to  implore  forgiveness,  and 
all  the  blessings  I  need. 

I  confess  my  original  guilt  and  depravity, 
the  numberless  sins  of  my  life,  and  my  re- 
maining imperfections,  and  humble  myself 
before  thee,  my  God,  on  account  of  them.  I 
lament  my  pride,  ambition,  and  worldly 
mindedness.  (Here  let  each  one  fill  up  the 
list  for  himself) 

Forgive,  I  beseech  thee,  for  Christ's  sake, 
who  shed  his  blood  for  me,  all  these  sins. 
Blot  them  all  out  from  the  book  of  thy  re- 
membrance, and  let  them  not  rise  up  in  judg- 
ment against  me. 

And  I  beseech  thee  to  grant  me  more 
grace,  and  to  sanctify  my  whole  nature. 
Clothe  me  with  humiUty;  make  me  heavenly 
minded;  inflame  my  love;  enkindle  my  zeal; 
impart  to  me  that  wisdom  which  is  profitable 
to  direct;  render  me  more  exemplary  in  the 
discharge  of  every  duty;  keep  me  near  to 


THE    CUP    GIVEN.  153 

thyself,  and  let  me  live  in  sweet  and  holy 
communion  with  thee.  (Here  let  each  offer 
the  petitions  suited  to  his  own  case.) 

Blessed  God,  I  embrace  this  precious  op- 
portunity for  praying  for  my  dear  companion, 
my  parents,  my  children,  my  relatives.  (Here 
each  may  particularize  so  as  to  suit  his  own 
case. ) 

Nor  would  I  forget  the  church  of  which  I 
am  a  member.  Bless  our  pastor,  furnish 
him  to  his  work.  Quicken  and  animate  all 
its  members.  Render  them  more  devout, 
more  active,  and  zealous  in  thy  cause.  Oh ! 
for  a  time  of  revival,  an  effusion  of  thy 
Spirit  upon  us,  that  all  may  share  in  the 
heavenly  influence,  and  that  sinners  may  be 
converted  in  numbers,  and  thy  great  name 
may  be  glorified. 

Bless  the  whole  church  with  new  life  and 
love,  with  increasing  zeal,  activity,  and  use- 
fulness. Revive  religion  every  where.  Let 
thy  kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done  on 
earth,  and  the  world  be  filled  with  thy  glory. 
Reign,  blessed  Jesus,  over  all  nations;  and 
let  Jew  and  Gentile  be  gathered  into  thy 
church,  and  thy  millennian  glory  be  seen  in 
all  the  earth.     Amen  and  Amen. 

Thou,  my  Lord  and  Saviour,  art  risen, 
from  the  dead;  thou  hast  ascended  into 
heaven;  thou  art  seated  on  the  throne  of 
God ;  thou  hast  universal  power ;  thou  ever 
iivest  to  make  intercession  for  thy  people ; 
thou  wilt  come  to  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness,  and  to  complete  the  salvation 


154  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

of  thy  church.  These  glorious  truths  I  re- 
joice to  remember;  and  by  calUng  them  to 
mind,  I  am  assured,  that  thou  canst  do  for 
me  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  I  can 
ask,  desire,  or  conceive.     Amen. 


MEDITATION  XXI. 


AFTER    RETURNING    FROM    THE    COMMUNION. 

I  HAVE  returned  from  the  supper  of  my  Lord 
and  Saviour ;  I  have  again  been  at  the  ban- 
quet he  prepares  for  his  disciples.  What 
has  been  the  result?  Were  my  views  clear 
and  satisfactory?  my  exercises  pleasant? 
Was  I  enabled  to  receive  the  sacred  symbols 
in  faith,  and  to  use  them  for  their  appropriate 
purposes? 

Did  I  remember  my  Redeemer  with  affec- 
tionate feelings?  calling  to  mind  his  original 
dignity,  his  infinite  condescension,  his  pro- 
found humiliation,  his  holy  life,  his  bitter 
sufferings,  and  shameful  death?  Especially 
did  I  think  of  the  unutterable  agonies  he  en- 
dured in  Gethsemane,  and  on  the  cross,  when 
his  Father  hid  his  face  from  him,  while  a 
preternatural  darkness  covered  the  earth? 
Did  my  sins  then,  in  the  light  of  the  cross, 
appear  great  and  hateful?  and  did  I  wish  to 
crucify  them,  that  they  might  die  ?  Did  the 
Saviour's  love  appear  great  and  attractive?  ^ 


PRATER.  155 

And,  when  I  received  the  cup,  did  I  renew 
my  covenant,  and  seal  it  with  tiie  sacred 
syinbols? 

'  Had  I  freedom  in  confessing  my  sins,  and 
in  presenting  suppUcations  for  myself  and 
others? 

Was  the  communion  sweet  and  pleasant 
to  my  soul?  and  have  I  reason  to  hope, 
that  my  attendance  on  the  ordinance  was 
acceptable  to  my  Lord  ?  May  I  look  for  a 
blessing  from  my  participation  of  the  heaven- 
ly feast  ? 

If  I  can  render  an  affirmative  answer  to 
these  questions,  I  may  well  bless  and  mag- 
nify the  Lord  for  his  distinguishing  grace  and 
love. 

But  if  my  views  and  exercises  were  not  as 
I  could  wish  they  had  been ;  if  I  did  not  en- 
joy the  presence  of  my  Redeemer,  as  I  wish- 
ed: yet,  if  my  preparation  for  the  ordinance 
was  carefully  and  duly  made,  I  may  console 
myself  with  the  reflection,  that  my  Saviour  is 
not  confined  in  his  favours  to  any  particular 
hour;  and  that  he  may  yet  manifest  himself 
to  my  soul,  and  cause  me  to  experience  the 
profit  of  waiting  on  him  in  his  appointed 
ordinance.  Let  me,  then,  look  for  his  bless- 
ing, and  the  gracious  and  consoling  influence 
of  his  Holy  Spirit. 

PRAYER. 

The  Lord  be  pleased  to  accept  of  my 
desires  and  endeavours.  Pardon  whatever 
was  faulty,  and  graciously  add  thy  blessing 


156  SACRAMENTAL  MEDITATIONS. 

to  my  attempts  to  serve  and  honour  thee  in 
thy  appointed  ordinance,  before  my  fellow- 
men.  And  to  thy  name  be  all  the  glory. 
Amen. 


MEDITATION  XXIL 

THANKSGIVING. 

This  evening  it  becomes  me  gratefully  to 
remember  the  favours  and  mercies  1  have  re- 
ceived from  the  hands  of  my  God.  This  day 
I  have  been  distinguished,  by  the  great  pri- 
vilege of  occupying  a  seat,  with  the  children 
of  the  Most  High,  at  the  table  of  our  Lord 
and  Redeemer;  and  the  enjoyment  of  so  sig- 
nal a  blessing,  may  well  lead  me  to  review 
the  numberless  favours  that  have  been  con- 
ferred on  me. 

So  many  years  ago,  I  had  no  existence.  The 
sun  was  rising  and  setting;  the  affairs  of  men 
were  moving  on,  and  living  creatures  were 
rejoicing  in  the  goodness  of  God;  but  I  had 
no  being,  no  senses,  no  capacity,  either  to 
behold  the  light  of  day,  or  to  participate  in 
the  movements  of  men,  or  to  enjoy  the  bless- 
ings of  a  kind  providence.  The  time  fixed 
in  the  purpose  of  the  Creator  came,  and  I 
received  an  existence  that  made  me  a  rational 
and  immortal  being,  raised  in  the  scale  of 


THANKSGIVING.  157 

creation  far  above  all  the  classes  of  inferior 
creatures  that  inhabit  the  earth.  Guarded 
by  a  kind  and  watchful  Providence,  I  have 
been  carried  safely  through  the  periods  of 
infancy  and  childhood,  of  youth  and  mature 
age,  and  continue  to  enjoy  my  existence  to 
the  present  time.  I  have  been  sick,  but  the 
Lord  healed  me.  I  was  often  exposed  to  dan- 
ger, but  he  delivered  me.  "  From  the  pesti- 
lence that  walketh  in  darkness,  and  the  de- 
struction that  wasteth  at  noon  day,'^  I  have 
been  shielded.  A  thousand  have  fallen  on 
my  right  hand,  and  ten  thousands  around  me; 
but  I  have  been  protected  against  the  strokes 
of  death.  Such  favonrs  demand  my  gratitude. 

The  care,  the  affection,  and  watchfulness 
of  my  parents,  the  means  of  education,  in- 
structors provided  for  assisting  me,  and  a 
disposition  to  avail  myself  of  these  favourable 
circumstances  for  the  culture  of  my  mind, 
and  the  acquisition  of  useful  knowledge,  claim 
a  grateful  remembrance. 

In  due  time,  it  pleased  the  wise  and  bene- 
volent Founder  of  human  families,  who,  at 
the  beginning,  said,  "  It  is  not  good  that  the 
man  should  be  alone;  I  will  make  him  an  help 
meet  for  him,"  to  furnish  me  with  a  com- 
panion, to  share  in  my  sorrows  and  trials, 
and  to  partake  of  my  pleasures  and  enjoy- 
ments. To  this  hour  we  have  been  kindly 
preserved  in  the  marriage  relation ;  and  hav- 
ing hved  together  for  a  number  of  years,  we 
behold  ourselves  surrounded,  in  the  good 
providence  of  our  God,  by  a  flock  of  chil- 
14 


158  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

dren,  on  whom  to  bestow  our  affection  and 
care,  and  to  train  up  in  the  nurture  and  ad- 
monition of  the  Lord.  They  and  we  have 
been  continued  in  the  enjoyment  of  Ufe;  and 
have  been  constantly  supplied  with  a  suffi- 
ciency to  meet  our  daily  wants;  with  food 
and  raiment,  a  habitation  in  which  to  dwell 
day  and  night,  and  fuel  to  protect  us  against 
the  severity  of  wintry  cold.  What  causes  of 
gratitude  are  here,  and  how  often  and  thank- 
fully should  I  call  them  to  mind,  that  I  may 
not  forget  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord. 

But  there  are  richer  blessings  than  these, 
that  call  for  grateful  recollection.  The  re- 
straints of  Divine  providence  and  grace,  that 
held  me  back  from  those  depths  of  iniquity, 
to  which  my  native  depravity  impelled  me; 
the  patience  and  forbearance  exercised  to- 
wards me,  while  1  was  living  in  thoughtless 
forgetfulness  of  my  Creator  and  Benefactor, 
and  indulging  my  perverse  incUnations  and 
sinful  propensities,  and  thus  swelling  the 
awful  amount  of  my  guilt,  and  urging  on  my 
course  in  the  broad  way  that  leadeth  to  de- 
struction, should  never  be  forgotten.  Ah ! 
had  it  pleased  God  to  cut  me  off  at  any  time 
in  my  mad  career,  how  hopeless  had  been  my 
case,  and  how  multiplied  my  sorrows!  Hell 
would  have  been  my  wretched  abode !  Bless- 
ed be  his  sparing  mercy  that  prolonged  my 
sinful  life,  that  I  might  share  in  his  great  sal- 
vation ! 

The  appointed  hour  came,  and  my  guilty 
soul  was  visited  with  renewing  and  saving 


THANKSGIVING.  159 

grace.  The  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  let 
into  my  darkened  mind.  I  became  awakened 
to  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  religion.  My 
numerous  and  aggravated  sins  were  brought 
to  view.  I  saw  my  guilt,  and  trembled. 
"What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved? '^  was  my 
earnest  inquiry.  How  shall  I  escape  deserved 
punishment  ?  Like  other  sinners  in  their  igno- 
rance, I  had  recourse  to  my  prayers,  to  my 
resolutions  and  reformation.  But  they  were 
unavailing;  the  disease  was  too  deep  and  ra- 
dical to  be  removed  by  such  inefficient  pre- 
scriptions. I  found  no  relief;  my  disease 
became  more  aggravated,  and  my  danger 
greater  and  more  alarming.  Hope  fled;  des- 
pair approached.  But,  in  this  extremity, 
when  experience  had  taught  me  my  own 
weakness  and  helplessness,  and  how  vain  it 
was  to  depend  upon  my  own  exertions  and 
resolutions,  my  Deliverer  appeared.  The 
Holy  Spirit  shined  on  the  word,  and  in  my 
mind.  I  discovered  the  plan  of  free  salvation ; 
I  saw  my  Saviour,  his  atoning  blood,  and  jus- 
tifying righteousness;  and  receiving  renew- 
ing grace,  I  was  enabled  to  beheve  in  him, 
and  to  rely  on  his  merits  and  intercession  for 
acceptance  with  God  and  for  eternal  life. 
Justified  freely  by  grace,  my  sins  were  all 
forgiven,  and  I  could  rejoice  in  God. 

What  a  change  !  I  was  an  enemy  to  God, 
but  now  I  am  his  friend ;  condemned,  but 
now  pardoned;  a  child  of  the  devil,  but  now 
a  child  of  God;  an  heir  of  hell,  but  now  an 
heir  of  heaven  ;  posting  on  in  the  road  to 


160  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

ruin,  but  now  walking  in  the  path  that  leads 
to  everlasting  happiness.  Amazing  change, 
produced  by  the  quickening  and  renewing 
grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit!  To  God  be  all  the 
glory.  I  deserve  no  part  of  the  praise.  Had 
I  been  left  to  myself,  I  should  have  remained 
in  all  the  guilt  and  misery  of  my  natural 
state,  and  gone  on  from  bad  to  worse,  and, 
from  day  to  day,  treasured  up  to  myself  wrath 
against  the  day  of  wrath,  and  revelation  of 
the  righteous  judgment  of  God.  Oh !  what 
gratitude  I  owe  to  the  Father,  to  the  Son, 
and  to  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  what  has  been 
done  for  me  by  his  free  and  sovereign  grace; 
and  for  making  me  to  differ  so  much  from 
those  of  my  fellow-creatures  who  are  left  to 
themselves,  and  do  not  participate  in  these 
inestimable  blessings  !     All  glory  to  God  ! 

Nor  is  this  all  that  I  have  to  recall  to  mind 
of  the  distinguishing  grace  and  loving-kind- 
ness of  God  to  me,  unworthy  sinner  that  I 
am.  By  his  grace  I  have  been  preserved  in 
that  blessed  slate  of  acceptance  and  friend- 
ship with  him,  into  which  I  have  been  in- 
troduced, by  faith  in  his  Son,  our  Mediator. 
Hitherto  he  has  kept  me  from  falling  into  a 
state  of  condemnation;  as  it  is  written, 
"There  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation  to 
them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not 
after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit.''  Rom. 
viii.  I.  If  at  any  time,  I  have  declined,  or 
backslidden  in  religion,  he  has  graciously 
brought  me  back  to  his  service,  and  revived 
me. 


THANKSGIVING.  161 

And  this  day,  I  have  been  indulged  with 
the  privilege  of  partaking  of  that  rich  banquet, 
which  the  love  of  his  Son  has  provided  for 
his  disciples,  and  of  renewing  with  him  "an 
everlasting  covenant,  ordered  in  all  things 
and  sure;  which  is  all  my  salvation  and  de- 
sire."    2  Sam.  xxiii.  5. 

Such  are  the  blessings,  temporal  and  spirit- 
ual, so  great,  so  various,  so  manifold,  so 
inestimable,  which  I  have  to  record  and  re- 
member this  day,  to  the  praise  of  my  God. 
Oh!  for  a  grateful  heart,  and  tongue  to  praise 
the  Lord! 


THANKSGIVING. 

Great  and  Almighty  God,  how  infinite  thy 
goodness,  and  boundless  thy  mercy !  When 
I  review  my  life,  and  call  to  mind  what  thou 
hast  done  for  me,  what  abundant  reason  do 
I  see  for  adopting  the  language  of  David! 
"Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul;  and  all  that  is 
within  me,  bless  his  holy  name.  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his 
benefits."  They  commenced  with  my  exist- 
ence; they  have  followed  me  through  life, 
and  have  continued  to  visit  me,  until  the 
present  hour.  They  are  innumerable  and 
very  great;  fresh  every  morning  and  re- 
newed every  evening. 

For  my  existence,  as  a  rational  and  im- 
mortal creature,  and  for  my  preservation 
through  the  dangers  of  infancy  and  child- 
hood, I  praise  thee,  0  my  Creator  and  Pre- 


162  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

server.  I  bless  thee  for  the  restramts  of  thy 
providence  and  grace,  by  which  I  was  kept 
from  acting  out  the  impulses  of  my  depraved 
desires  and  wicked  passions.  For  the  exer- 
cise of  thy  patience  and  forbearance,  by  which 
the  stroke  of  offended  justice  was  held  back, 
and  my  guilty  soul  was  saved  from  deserved 
punishment,  I  magnify  thy  name.  Daily 
have  I  been  fed  and  clothed,  while  I  was 
daily  forgetful  of  that  bountiful  hand,  which 
supplied  all  my  recurring  wants,  spread  my 
table  with  plenty,  furnished  me  with  raiment, 
and  provided  for  me  a  comfortable  dwelling. 
0  bless  the  Lord,  my  soul. 

For  my  companion,  and  for  my  children, 
and  their  preservation,  I  thank  thee,  0  thou 
wise  and  beneficent  Founder  of  famihes,  and 
kind  Benefactor  of  our  race. 

0 !  how  kind  thou  hast  been  in  regard  to 
my  spiritual  interest!  Thou  didst  put  into 
my  hand  thy  inspired  word,  supplied  me 
with  other  means  of  grace,  with  the  worship 
of  thy  house  and  the  preaching  of  the  gospel. 
And  what  shall  I  render  unto  thee,  0  thou 
gracious  God,  that  notwithstanding  my  un- 
grateful and  sinful  neglect  of  these  precious 
favours,  thou  wast  pleased  to  call  me  out  of 
darkness  into  marvellous  light.  I  magnify 
thy  name  for  the  great  and  wonderful  change 
thou  hast  wrought  in  my  character  and  state. 
Hast  thou  not,  0  merciful  God,  renewed  and 
sanctified  my  nature,  and  united  me  to  the 
Saviour  by  a  living  faith?  Hast  thou  not 
forgiven  all  my  sins  and  justified  me  by  faith 


OBLIGATIONS    ASSUMED.  163 

in  Christ?  Have  I  not  peace  with  thee? 
Hast  thou  not  adopted  me  into  thy  family? 
Am  I  not  thy  child  and  an  heir  of  heaven? 
and  may  I  not  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of 
God?  For  these  unutterable  blessings,  I 
praise  and  extol  thy  great  name,  0  my  cove- 
nant God,  and  Fountain  of  all  good.  For 
ever  be  thou  glorified  by  me  and  all  thy 
creatures.  And  now  to  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  be  all  praise,  for  ever  and  evei;. 
Amen. 


MEDITATION    XXIII. 

OBLIGATIONS    ASSUMED. 

The  Lord's  supper  is  fitly  called  the  Eu- 
charist, that  is,  thanksgiving.  Well  may 
we  render  thanks  and  praise,  for  the  great 
privilege  of  commemorating  the  death  of  our 
Redeemer,  and  of  accepting  his  purchased 
blessings,  whenever  we  partake  of  this  ordi- 
nance. But  another  duty  of  a  difierent  kind, 
though  not  at  all  inconsistent  with  the  plea- 
sant one  of  thanksgiving  and  praise,  is  de- 
manded. We  are  called  upon  to  assume 
covenant  obhgations,  by  recognizing  God's 
right  over  us,  entering  into  covenant  whh 
him,  and  engaging  to  keep  his  command- 
ments, and  to  live  to  his  glory.  And  is  not 
this  a  privilege  ?     Does  it  not  claim  my  gra- 


164  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

titude  and  praise,  that  I  am  permitted  to  re- 
turn from  my  wanderings  unto  the  Fountain 
of  Hght,  of  hoHness,  and  of  happiness;  to 
bind  myself  by  solemn  vows  of  obedience  to 
my  God,  with  the  encouraging  hope  that  he 
will,  for  the  sake  of  his  own  Son,  graciously 
accept  of  my  covenant  engagements,  and 
afford  me  grace  to  enable  me  to  fulfil  them? 

I  have  made,  in  the  ordinance  on  which  I 
Ixave  attended,  a  solemn  recognition,  that  I 
am  not  my  own,  but  belong  to  Jesus  Christ, 
my  Lord,  and  devoted  myself  to  his  service 
and  glory.  And  what  could  be  more  rea- 
sonable and  proper?  Am  I  not  his  in  every 
sense?  Has  he  not  in  me  the  most  unlimited 
property? 

Whence  did  I  derive  my  existence?  Not 
from  myself;  nor  from  my  parents,  who  were 
only  the  instruments  of  bringing  me  into  the 
world.  I  owe  my  existence  to  Jesus  Christ; 
"  for  by  him  were  all  things  created,  that  are 
in  heaven,  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and 
invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  or  do- 
minions, or  principalities,  or  powers ;  all 
things  were  created  by  him,  and  for  him." 
Col.  i.  16.  He  gave  me  existence.  He 
formed  my  body,  curiously  and  wonderfully 
constructed,  with  its  various  senses,  organs, 
and  limbs.  He  gave  me  eyes  to  see,  ears  to 
hear,  legs  and  feet  to  walk,  arms  and  hands 
for  their  appropriate  uses,  a  mouth  to  receive 
necessary  food  and  drink,  and  a  tongue  to 
converse  with  my  fellow  creatures,  and  to 
speak  his  praise.     He  created  my  soul,  and 


OBLIGATIONS    ASSUMED.  165 

endowed  it  with  all  its  intellectual  and  moral 
faculties.  I  am  his,  then,  by  right  of  crea- 
tion. 

By  whom  has  my  existence  been  pre- 
served? My  parents  watched  carefully  over 
me,  during  my  infancy,  childhood,  and  youth; 
and  I  have  daily  eaten  the  food  necessary  for 
the  sustentation  of  my  mortal  frame,  and  put 
on  raiment  to  protect  my  body  against  the 
cold.  But  vain  had  been  my  own  care  and 
that  of  my  parents,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
preserving  and  protecting  guardianship  of  my 
Redeemer.  Had  he  willed  it,  food  would 
have  become  nauseous,  sickness  seized  my 
frame,  medicine  proved  unavailing;  the  pulsa- 
tions of  my  heart,  and  the  circulation  of  blood 
through  my  veins,  would  have  ceased;  my 
eyes  would  have  been  closed,  and  my  active 
limbs  become  motionless,  by  the  cold  hand 
of  death.  Had  he  willed  it,  my  existence 
would  have  been  lost,  and  my  being  returned 
to  its  original  nothingness.  "In  Him  we  live, 
and  move,  and  have  our  being."  Acts  xvii. 
2S.     I  am  his  by  right  of  preservation. 

And  am  I  not  his  by  innumerable  blessings 
conferred  on  me?  From  infancy  to  the  pre- 
sent hour,  he  has  opened  his  hand,  and  sup- 
plied, by  his  rich  bounty,  my  daily  and  re- 
turning wants.  He  has  watched  over  me  by 
day  and  by  night,  and  saved  me  from  dangers 
seen  and  unseen.  He  commanded  the  sun 
to  rise  and  shine,  that  my  eyes  might  see  the 
light,  and  behold  the  beauties  of  nature ;  and 
to  set,  that  I  might  gaze  at  the  glories  of  the 


166  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

firmament  above,  and  praise  the  Almighty 
Creator.  He,  by  his  wisdom,  mingled  to- 
gether, in  due  proportion,  the  elements  that 
compose  the  atmosphere,  to  render  it  fit  for 
human  respiration,  that  I  might  inhale  health, 
and  not  death.  At  his  command  the  rain 
descends  to  fertilize  the  earth ;  the  grass 
grows;  the  wheat,  and  the  rye,  and  the 
various  vegetables,  on  which  we  subsist;  the 
trees  bring  forth  their  various  and  delightful 
fruits;  and  animals  are  multiplied  to  furnish 
men  with  food,  and  supply  them  with  raiment 
to  protect  and  adorn  their  bodies.  In  all 
these  diversified  operations  of  his  Avonder- 
working  providence,  I  have  largely  par- 
taken; and  my  heart  has  been  made  glad  by 
his  rich  and  long  continued  bounties.  And 
must  I  not  feel  constrained  by  gratitude,  to 
acknowledge  that  I  am  his? 

To  these  common  blessings  of  providence 
he  has  added  more  special  blessings.  He 
gave  me  birth  in  a  Christian  country,  in  a 
land  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  He  has 
put  into  my  hand  the  Bible,  containing  a 
revelation  from  heaven,  that  I  may  read  and 
study  it,  and  understand  the  wonderful  plan 
of  salvation,  devised  by  infinite  wisdom.  He 
has  instituted  the  Sabbath,  that  I  may  enjoy 
the  rest  of  one  day  in  seven,  and  attend, 
without  interruption  by  the  ordinary  cares 
and  business  of  life,  to  the  greater  interests  of 
religion.  He  has  thrown  open  to  me  the 
doors  of  the  sanctuary,  that  I  may  enter  in, 
and  worship  with  the   great  congregation. 


OBLIGATIONS    ASSUMED.  167 

He  has  given  me  access  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  bidden  me  come  boldly  in  his 
name,  that  I  may  obtain  every  needed  bless- 
ing. He  has  opened  the  way  into  the  holiest 
of  all,  and  permitted  me  to  approach  and  con- 
verse with -infinite  Majesty.  He  has  impart- 
ed to  me  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  a  teacher, 
advocate,  comforter,  and  witness,  to  regene- 
rate and  sanctify  my  sonl,  and  to  perfect 
holiness  in  me.  He  has  bought  me  with  his 
blood,  and  wrought  out  for  me  a  perfect 
righteousness,  that  I  may  appear  with  accept- 
ance in  the  eyes  of  infinite  purity. 

And  am  I  not  his,  who  has  done  all  this 
for  me;  bestowed  on  me  such  numberless 
and  rich  blessings,  who  has  purchased  me  as 
his  property,  and  delivered  me  from  captivity 
to  sin,  and  death,  and  hell ;  and  has  prepared 
mansions  in  his  Father's  house,  that  I  may 
dwell  with  him  there,  in  eternal  happiness, 
and  in  endless  glory?  Certainly  I  am  his, 
who  has  bestowed  on  me  such  unutterable 
benefits. 

By  right  of  creation — by  right  of  preser- 
vation— by  right  of  numberless  benefactions, 
— by  right  of  redemption — by  the  quicken- 
ing and  sanctifying  influences  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  and  by  repeated  self-dedications  to  his 
service,  solemnly  acknowledged,  and  ratified, 
at  the  table  of  my  Lord,  I  belong  to  Him, 
who  "  died,  and  rose,  and  revived,  that  he 
might  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  Hving." 
Rom.  xiv.  10. 

Yes,  I  have  solemnly  recognized  the  right 


168  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

of  Jesus  Christ;  and,  in  the  presence  of  men, 
of  angels,  and  of  God,  I  have  devoted  myself, 
soul  and  body,  to  his  service  and  glory.  0 ! 
may  I  never  forget  the  solemn  truth,  and 
solemn  transaction!  May  I  be  enabled  to 
fulfil  my  covenant  engagements!  I  do  not 
belong  to  the  world.  Let  me  then  come  out 
from  it,  and  be  separate;  and  manifest  by 
my  life,  that  I  am  not  governed  by  the  sinful 
views,  and  maxims,  and  principles,  that  go- 
vern unrenewed  men,  but  by  those  that  are 
set  forth  in  the  sacred  Scriptures.  The  servi- 
tude of  Satan  I  renounce ;  therefore  I  must 
resist  all  his  temptations,  and  oppose  the 
interests  of  his  usurped  dominion  over  the 
world.  I  am  not  my  own;  therefore  I  may 
not  follow  my  own  sinful  inclinations,  nor 
gratify  my  evil  passions,  and  carnal  desires. 
My  flesh  and  sinful  lusts  must  all  be  morti- 
fied and  crucified.  My  body  is  to  be  pre- 
sented as  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable 
unto  God,  a  reasonable  service;  and  I  am 
to  be  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  my 
mind,  that  I  may  prove  what  is  that  good, 
and  acceptable,  and  perfect  will  of  God. 
Rom.  xii.  1,  2.  In  a  word,  I  must  follow 
Christ,  and  be  holy  as  God  is  holy;  and 
endeavour  to  shine  forth  in  all  the  heavenly 
graces  and  virtues  that  pertain  to  a  perfect 
man  in  Christ  Jesus. 

PRAYER. 

My  Lord  and  my  God,  I  acknowledge  thy 
right  to  me  and  over  me.     I   am  thine,  in 


PRAYER.  169 

every  sense  of  the  word.  Thine  by  creation, 
thine  by  preservation,  thine  by  thy  benefac- 
tions, thine  by  redemption,  thine  by  regener- 
ation, thine  by  self-dedication.  I  am  not  my 
own,  but  wholly  thine,  for  time  and  for  eter- 
nity. In  this  I  rejoice.  0!  for  grace  to 
remember  the  glorious  truth,  and  to  live 
according  to  its  controhng  influence.  Let 
me  never  forget  it.  0!  engrave  it  on  my 
memory,  and  in  my  heart.  May  I,  at  all 
times,  and  in  all  circumstances,  acknowledge 
that  I  am  not  mine  own,  but  belong  to  my 
faithful  Lord  and  Saviour,  who  has  bought 
me  with  his  precious  blood,  and  sanctified 
me  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  constrained  me  to 
devote  myself  soul  and  body  to  his  service 
and  honour,  for  ever.  May  I  be  faithful  to 
my  engagements,  and  always  live  in  such  a 
way  as  to  prove  to  the  world,  that  I  am  the 
servant  and  friend  of  my  Redeemer.  Reign 
in  me,  blessed  Jesus.  Take  entire  possession 
of  my  soul  and  body;  and  control  all  the 
faculties  of  the  one,  and  all  the  members  of 
the  other,  so  as  to  do  thy  holy  will,  and  bring 
glory  to  thy  great  name,  both  here  and  here- 
after.    Amen  and  Amen. 


170  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 


MEDITATION  XXIV. 
♦ 

THE    christian's    WARFARE. 

The  Christian's  life  is  not  one  of  ease  and 
nnmingled  pleasure.  It  is  exhibited  in  scrip- 
ture, by  metaphors  that  imply  self-denial, 
exertion,  and  danger.  It  is  compared  to  a 
race,  to  wrestling,  to  a  warfare.  The  Chris- 
tian has  numerous,  powerful,  vigilant,  and 
deceitful  enemies,  with  whom  he  must  con- 
tend. Let  me  look  at  them,  and  contemplate 
the  warfare  in  which  I  have  engaged,  by  be- 
coming a  follower  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  world  in  which  I  live  lieth  in  wicked- 
ness. Being  in  rebellion  against  God,  it  is 
opposed  to  his  cause,  and  his  religion  among 
men.  It  is  of  course  an  enemy  to  all  his 
friends,  and  will  not  fail  to  attempt  to  defile 
the  purity  of  their  heart,  and  to  turn  them 
aside  from  the  path  of  duty.  It  has  various 
enticing  objects  to  seduce  them  from  the  way 
of  God's  commandments:  riches,  honour, 
and  pleasure,  by  which  it  controls  and  holds 
in  bondage  all  unrenewed  men.  Let  me 
watch  against  their  seductive  influence. 

If  in  the  prosecution  of  regular  business,  it 
please  God,  by  his  propitious  Providence,  to 
grant  success  to  my  enterprises  and  exertionS; 


171 

so  as  to  advance  me  to  the  possession  of 
wealth;  or  if  he  bestow  upon  me  a  large  in- 
heritance; I  am  not  to  refuse  his  gifts,  but 
thankfully  to  enjoy  them.  But,  then,  let 
me  beware,  lest  I  indulge  inordinate  desire 
and  anxious  care,  either  in  the  pursuit,  or  in 
the  possession  of  wealth.  "  Take  heed,  and 
beware  of  covetousness,"  is  the  injunction  of 
my  Saviour ;  "  for  a  man's  life  consisteth  not 
in  the  abundance  of  the  things  which  he  pos- 
sesseth."  Luke  xii.  15.  "Godliness  with 
contentment  is  great  gain,"  says  Paul;  "for 
we  brought  nothing  into  this  world;  audit 
is  certain  we  can  carry  nothing  out.  And 
having  food  and  raiment,  let  us  be  therewith 
content.  But  they  that  will  be  rich  fall  into 
temptation  and  a  snare,  and  into  many  foolish 
and  hurtful  lusts,  which  drown  men  in  de- 
struction and  perdition.  For  the  love  of 
money  is  the  root  of  all  evil:  which  while 
some  coveted  after,  they  have  erred  from  the 
faith,  and  pierced  themselves  through  with 
many  sorrows."  1  Tim.  vi.  6-10.  These 
instructive  lessons,  let  me  never  forget.  Im- 
printed on  my  heart,  they  will  save  me  from 
every  inordinate  desire  for  wealth,  and  keep 
me  back  from  all  unjust  means  in  the  acqui- 
sition of  gain;  and  prompt  me  to  the  exercise 
of  that  liberality  which  will  lead  to  such  a 
use  of  wealth,  in  the  support  of  the  gospel 
and  in  the  relief  of  the  poor,  as  becomes  the 
character  of  a  Christian,  and  will  secure  the 
approbation  of  God. 

A  good  reputation  is  certainly  an  object 


172  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

worthy  of  my  desire ;  for  without  it  I  cannot 
adorn  the  gospel  I  profess.  But  then  it  must 
be  acquired  by  a  pious  life  and  the  practice 
of  Christian  virtues.  But  the  honours  that 
the  world  presents  as  objects  of  ambition,  and 
that  are  to  be  gained  by  engaging  in  party 
intrigue,  and  party  practices,  I  should  refuse 
and  abhor.  And  yet,  if,  in  the  regular  dis- 
charge of  duty,  I  should  be  elevated  to  a  post 
of  honour,  or  a  station  of  trust,  power,  and 
influence,  let  me  regard  it  as  a  gift  of  divine 
Providence,  to  increase  my  means  for  doing 
good  and  promoting  religion. 

"  Wisdom's  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness, 
and  all  her  paths  are  paths  of  peace."  Prov. 
iii.  17.  The  pleasures  of  domestic  and  social 
life,  are  not  denied  to  a  Christian.  I  may 
freely  participate  in  them,  under  the  guidance 
and  restraints  of  that  wisdom  that  cometh 
down  from  above.  But  there  are  pleasures 
in  which  worldUngs  dehght,  which  pollute 
the  soul,  and  excite  and  increase  the  power  of 
evil  passions.  Of  these  let  me  beware.  The 
theatre  is  to  be  shunned  as  a  school  of  vice ; 
and  the  midnight  ball  regarded  as  an  exercise 
unbecoming  one  professing  godliness,  and 
corrupting  in  its  influence.  I  am  not  to  fre- 
quent those  large  and  crowded  parties,  that 
assemble  and  break  up  at  such  unseasonable 
hours,  and  so  often  interrupt  the  regular  wor- 
ship of  families.  Nor  am  I  to  imitate  those 
inconsiderate  persons,  who,  by  luxurious  and 
expensive  entertainments,  go  beyond  their 
means,  and  tempt  themselves   to  embezzle 


THE    christian's    WARFARE.  173 

the  property  of  others,  to  enable  them  to  per- 
sist in  their  folly.  Over  all  my  amusements, 
recreations,  enjoyments  and  pleasures,  let 
heavenly  wisdom  preside,  and  save  me  from 
abusing  the  gifts  of  a  kind  Providence. 

But  there  are  greater  and  more  powerful 
enemies  with  whom  I  have  to  contend. 
"We,"  says  the  apostle,  "wrestle  not  against 
flesh  and  blood,  but  against  principalities, 
against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the 
darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual 
wickedness  in  high  places."  Ephes.  vi.  12. 
What  a  fearful  array !  From  this  passage  it 
appears  that  fallen  angels  are  so  numerous  as 
to  be  distributed  into  certain  orders  of  gov- 
ernment. At  their  head  stands  Satan,  once  a 
mighty  archangel,  but  now  the  great  enemy 
of  God's  kingdom  in  this  world.  He  at- 
tempted and  succeeded  in  the  enterprise  of 
seducing  our  first  parents  into  sin:  and  ever 
since  that  fatal  day,  he  and  his  rebellious 
associates  have  prosecuted,  with  untiring 
diligence  and  malignant  pleasure,  the  dread- 
ful work  of  tempting  men  to  sin  against  God. 
He  reigns  over  this  fallen  world,  and  leads 
our  sinful  race  captives,  according  to  his  plea- 
sure. They  willingly  yield  to  his  seductive 
temptations,  which  accord  with  their  sinful 
lusts  and  wicked  passions.  Satan  and  his  as- 
sociates have  studied  human  nature  for  many 
ages;  and  know,  by  long  experience,  how  to 
adapt  their  temptations  to  each  man's  temper 
and  circumstanees.  Ever  watchful,  they  are 
ready  to  apply  their  influence  at  the  proper 
15 


174  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

juncture;  and  the  most  favourable  moment, 
to  insure  success. 

With  such  enemies,  so  numerous,  so  malig- 
nant, so  artful  and  cunning,  and  so  watchful 
and  untiring  in  their  work  of  beguiling  and 
ruining  men,  thou,  0  my  soul,  hast  to  con- 
tend. They  are  invisible  to  the  eye,  but  they 
are  real,  and  the  more  dangerous  on  account 
of  their  invisibility.  Against  their  devices 
and  snares  how  carefully  oughtest  thou  to 
watch  and  pray ! 

Alas!  they  ^id  within  me  an  enemy  ever 
ready  to  unite  in  their  wicked  designs,  and 
deliver  me  up  to  their  seductive  influence. 
My  heart,  though  quickened  into  spiritual 
life,  and  sanctified  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  is  but 
imperfectly  purified.  There  is  still  remaining 
within  me  "the  old  man,"  sin,  to  oppose  "the 
new  man,"  a  principle  of  holiness,  in  all  his 
eff"orts  of  obedience;  so  that  I  cannot  do 
the  good  I  would.  Ah!  were  I  free  from  all 
remains  of  sins,  were  I  perfectly  holy,  resist- 
ance to  the  devil's  temptations  would  not  be 
so  difficult.  How  much  reason  have  I  to 
exclaim,  with  the  apostle,  "0  wretched  man 
that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the 
body  of  this  death  ?  I  thank  God  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."  Rom.  vii.  24,  25. 

But  in  this  great  fight  with  enemies  so 
mighty,  so  numerous,  and  so  dangerous,  let 
me  not  be  discouraged.  God  has  provided 
me  with  a  complete  armour  for  the  battle. 
There  is  the  girdle  of  truth  to  keep  the 
armour  in  its  place,  and  the  breastplate  of 


THE    christian's    WARFARE.  175 

riahteonsness  to  protect  the  breast.  My  feet 
may  be  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gos- 
pel of  .peace.  There  is  the  shield  of  faith  to 
quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked ;  the 
helmet,  or  hope,  of  salvation  to  guard  the 
head  against  deadly  strokes;  and  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,  to  be 
wielded  in  assaiUng  my  enemies.  Ephes. 
vi.  13-17. 

Here  is  complete  armour  for  my  warfare. 
Let  me  put  it  on ;  and  thus  armed,  let  me  go 
forth  under  the  conduct  of  the  great  Captain 
of  salvation,  to  the  warfare  to  which  I  am 
called;  and,  with  earnest  prayer  to  Almighty 
God  for  grace  and  strength,  let  me  endeavour 
to  be  "strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power 
of  his  might;''  that  I  may  be  enabled  "to 
withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and  having  done 
all,  to  stand."  Ephes.  vi.  10,  43. 

I  have  looked  at  my  enemies ;  now  let  me 
look  at  my  allies  and  friends.  Here  on  earth 
I  see  the  host  of  God's  elect;  all  engaged  in 
the  same  warfare,  and  continually  offering 
up  to  the  glorious  Head  of  the  church,  the 
prayer,  "Thy  kingdom  come."  In  heaven 
I  behold  the  mighty  angels  prepared  for  her 
and  my  aid;  for  "are  they  not  all  ministering 
spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them  who 
shall  be  heirs  of  salvation?"  Heb.  i.  14. 
They  are  more  numerous  and  more  powerful 
than  fallen  spirits,  and  render  to  the  children 
of  God  signal  aid.  "The  angel  of  the  Lord 
encampeth  round  about  them  that  fear  him, 
and  delivereth  them."  Psal.  xxxiv.  7.    Ter- 


176  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

rified  by  a  sight  of  the  Syrian  host  that  com- 
passed the  city,  both  with  horses  and 
chariots,  "the  young  man  who  waited  on 
EUsha  exclaimed,  Alas,  my  master!  how 
shall  we  do?  And  he  answered.  Fear  not: 
for  they  that  be  with  us,  are  more  than  they 
that  be  with  them.  And  Eiisha  prayed  and 
said,  Lord,  I  pray  thee,  open  his  eyes,  that  he 
may  see.  And  the  Lord  opened  the  eyes  of 
the  young  man,  and  he  saw ;  and  behold,  the 
mountain  was  full  of  horses  and  chariots  of 
fire,  round  about  Eiisha."  2  Kings  vi.  15-17. 
And  were  my  eyes,  and  the  eyes  of  other 
Christians  opened,  as  were  the  eyes  of  this 
young  man,  what  discoveries  should  we  make, 
and  how  should  we  rejoice  in  the  heavenly 
guards  God  has  stationed  around  us ! 

And  when  we  consider,  that  Jehovah 
himself  is  on  our  side,  surely  we  are  author- 
ized to  dismiss  every  dispiriting  fear!  The 
triumphant  interrogatories  of  the  apostle 
Paul,  become  our  lips:  "If  God  be  for  us 
who  can  be  against  us?  lie  that  spared  not 
his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all, 
how  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give  us 
all  things?  Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the 
charge  of  God's  elect?  God  that  justifieth? 
Will  he  do  it?  Who  is  he  that  condemneth? 
Christ  that  died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen 
again,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
who  also  maketh  intercession  for  us?  Will 
he  condemn?  Who  shall  separate  us  from 
the  love  of  Christ?  Shall  tribulation,  or 
distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  naked- 


177 

ness,  or  peril,  or  sword?  As  it  is  written, 
For  thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day  long; 
we  are  accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter. 
Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than 
conquerors  through  him  that  loved  us.  For 
I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death,  nor 
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor 
things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be 
able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God, 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.*'  Rom.  viii.  31-39. 

PRAYER. 

Almighty  God,  in  what  a  warfare  have  I 
engaged,  by  entering  into  the  service  of  Jesus 
Christ  thy  Son !  With  what  enemies  I  have 
to  contend!  The  world  meets  me,  to  entice 
me  back  from  his  blessed  control.  It  urges 
its  sinful  maxims,  customs,  practices,  and 
amusements,  to  turn  my  feet  from  his  com- 
mandments. By  its  wealth,  its  honours,  and 
its  pleasures,  it  allures  me  from  duty.  By 
innumerable,  cunning,  and  malignant  fallen 
spirits,  I  am  surrounded;  who  are  constantly 
watching  for  opportunities  to  press  upon  me 
their  temptations.  And  alas!  my  depraved 
heart  is  ready  to  seize  the  temptation,  and  to 
side  with  my  spiritual  enemies,  that  I  may 
be  led  astray  from  thy  holy  precepts. 

When  I  consider  my  own  weakness,  and 
compare  myself  with  the  number,  power, 
subtilly,  and  influence  of  my  enemies,  hovi^ 
discouraging  the  warfare!     But  blessed  be 


178  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

thy  name,  I  am  not  called  to  war  in  my  own 
strength.  I  may  rely  on  thy  almighty  aid. 
Thou  hast  provided  for  me  a  complete 
armom\  0!  help  me  to  put  it  on;  and  lead 
me  on  to  fight  under  the  conduct  of  the  great 
Captain  of  salvation.  I  am  not  alone  in  this 
warfare.  I  have  for  my  fellow  soldiers,  all 
the  chosen  and  redeemed  of  God  on  earth, 
who  are  sending  up  prayer  to  God  for  them- 
selves and  each  other.  And  I  am  taught  by 
thy  word  to  believe,''that  the  holy  angels  are 
ministering  to  my  welfare  and  safety.  More 
are  on  my  side  than  they  that  be  against  me. 
With  such  friends  and  allies,  I  may,  relying 
on  the  grace  of  my  God,  go  on  cheerfully  in 
the  warfare,  and  entertain  a  confident  hope 
of  a  final  and  triumphant  victory  over  all  my 
spiritual  enemies. 

I  shrill  at  last  tread  them  all  under  my  feet, 
and  exult  for  ever  in  the  finished  salvation 
of  my  glorious  Redeemer.  Into  thy  hands, 
0  my  God,  I  commit  my  soul.  Preserve  me, 
blameless,  unto  thy  heavenly  kingdom,  and 
bestow  upon  me  a  crown  of  life,  for  Jesus* 
sake.    Amen. 


WATCHFULNESS.  179 


MEDITATION  XXV. 

WATCHFULNESS  AND  DEPENDENCE  ON  DIVINE 
ASSISTANCE. 

When  I  compare  my  enemies  with  my 
friends  and  allies,  I  see  the  latter  exceed  in 
number,  and  far  transcend  in  power  the 
former;  so  that  I  may,  in  this  view  of  my 
case,  well  cheer  myself,  by  repeating  the 
triumphant  language  of  the  apostle,  recited 
in  the  preceding  meditation.  But  guarded 
as  I  am  by  the  ministry  of  holy  angels,  and 
protected  by  the  Almighty,  I  must  not  forget, 
that  I  am  here  in  a  state  of  warfare,  and  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  that,  while  in  such  a 
state,  I  am  exposed  to  dangers,  which  de- 
mand unceasing  watchfulness,  and  the  vigo- 
rous exertion  of  every  power  I  possess.  The 
commander  of  a  well  appointed  army,  confi- 
ding in  its  valour,  may,  when  he  sees  the  in- 
feriority of  his  enemy,  feel  assured  of  gaining 
victory  in  the  day  of  conflict.  But  were  he 
to  suffer  himself  to  be  deceived  by  his  confi- 
dence, so  as  to  be  betrayed  into  security,  and 
to  neglect  to  post  his  sentinels  around  his  en- 
campment at  night,  he  would  act  a  most  un- 
wise part,  and  expose  his  army  to  surprise, 
by  a  midnight  assault,  and  a  shameful  over- 
throw. 


ISO  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

This  duty  is  forcibly  recommended  by  the 
consideration!  of  certain  cases  on  record. 
Several  of  the  ancient  saints  failed  in  the 
exercise  of  particular  graces  for  which  they 
Avere  eminent.  Abraham  was  distinguished 
by  the  strength  of  his  faith;  yet  he  failed  in 
the  exercise  of  faith,  in  more  than  one 
instance,  by  the  story  he  invented  to  secure 
himself  from  danger,  to  which  he  feared  he 
would  be  exposed,  by  the  beauty  of  his  wife. 
Moses  is  pronounced  the  meekest  man  on 
earth;  yet  he  was  so  provoked,  by  the  rebel- 
lion of  the  Israelites,  that,  at  Horeb,  when  he 
smote  the  rock,  and  brought  forth  a  plentiful 
stream  of  water,  to  allay  their  thirst,  he  spake 
unadvisedly  with  his  lips,  and'  failed  to  hon- 
our God;  and  was,  on  account  of  this  sin, 
forbidden  to  enter  the  land  of  promise.  See 
Psal.  cvi.  33.  Numb.  xx.  10,  11.  The  fail- 
ures in  duty,  of  these  eminent  saints,  may 
teach  me  a  salutary  lesson,  to  be  always  on 
the  watch. 

The  cases  of  Lot  and  David  are  awaken- 
ing and  alarming.  Lot  was  certainly  a 
righteous  man;  he  is  so  styled  by  Peter; 
(2  Pet.  ii.  7,  8;)  yet  shortly  after  his  memo- 
rable deliverance  from  the  conflagration  of 
Sodom,  into  what  shameful  sins  was  he 
betrayed  by  his  two  daughters?  Gen.  xix. 
30-38.  David  passed  through  many  great 
and  severe  trials,  with  honour  to  himself. 
But  after  the  Lord  had  delivered  him  out  of 
them  all,  and  had  firmly  established  him  on 
the  throne  of  Israel,  into  what  shameful  sins 


WATCHFULNESS.  181 

did  he  fall  that  brought  npoii  him  such  severe 
punishment  from  the  hand  of  God,  and  called 
for  such  deep  abasement  and  anguish  of 
soiil! 

Look  at  these  cases,  0  my  soul,  and  trem- 
ble. See  to  what  depths  of  iniquity  thou 
mightest  fall,  if  thou  wert  not  sustained,  by 
the  upholding  grace  of  God.  How  necessary 
and  worthy  of  thy  consideration,  the  admo- 
nitions of  the  apostle !  "Let  him  that  think- 
eth  he  standeth,  take  heed  lest  he  fall: 
1  Cor.  X.  12:  and  again,  "Be  not  high- 
minded,  but  fear.'^  Rom.  xi.  20.  Peter,  after 
having  led  us  to  the  contemplation  of  the  end 
of  the  world,  adds  this  caution:  "Ye  there- 
fore, beloved,  seeing  ye  know  these  things, 
beware  lest  ye  also,  being  led  awa^r  with  the 
error  of  the  wicked,  fall  from  your  own  stead- 
fastness.'' 2  Pet.  in.  17. 

The  Lord  is  true  to  his  promises,  and  I 
may,  with  confidence,  rely  on  their  faithful- 
ness; but  let  me  remember  I  am  not  author- 
ized to  expect  their  fulfilment  to  me,  unless  I 
use  the  means  appointed  for  the  purpose. 
The  great  apostle,  who  well  understood  the 
nature  of  the  promises,  and  their  connexion 
with  human  exertion,  says  of  himself,  "I 
therefore  so  run,  not  as  uncertainly ;  so  fight  I, 
not  as  one  that  beateth  the  air:  but  I  keep 
under  my  body,  and  bring  it  into  subjection, 
lest  that  by  any  means,  when  I  have  preach- 
ed to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  castaway." 
1  Cor.  ix.  26,  27.  And  this  important  direc- 
tion he  has  left  on  record,  "  Wherefore  seeing 
16 


182  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

we  also  are  compassed  about  with  so  great  a 
cloud  of  witnesses,  let  us  lay  aside  every 
weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily 
beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the 
race  that  is  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus, 
the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith;  who  for 
the  joy  that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the 
cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down 
at  the  right  hand  of  God.  For  consider  him 
that  endured  such  contradiction  of  sinners 
against  himself,  lest  ye  be  wearied  and  faint 
in  your  minds.^'  Heb.  xii.  1-3. 

Watchfulness,  in  a  state  of  warfare,  is  a 
most  reasonable  duty.  How  frequent  the 
exhortations  to  it  in  the  Scriptures !  "  Watch, 
therefore:  for  ye  know  not  what  hour  your 
Lord  doth  come."  "Watch  and  pray,  that 
ye  enter  not  into  temptation.'^  "Watch  ye, 
stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit  you  like  men,  be 
be  strong.''  "Therefore  let  us  not  sleep,  as 
do  others:  but  let  us  watch,  and  be  sober." 
"But  the  end  of  all  things  is  at  hand;  be  ye 
therefore  sober,  and  watch  unto  prayer." 
Matt.  xxiv.  42;  xxvi.  41.  1  Cor.  xvi.  13. 
1  Thess.  V.  G.  1  Pet.  [v.  7. 

My  soul,  remember  this  important  injunc- 
tion of  thy  Lord,  so  often  repeated  by  his 
inspired  apostles.  Watch  against  thy  ene- 
mies, at  all  times,  and  in  all  places:  watch 
and  pray. 

Another  duty  that  demands  my  special 
attention  in  this  wartare,  is,  to  bear  in  con- 
stant remembrance  my  own  weakness  and 
insufficiency,  for  this  spiritual  and  dangerous 


WATCHFULNESS.  183 

conflict.  The  Spirit  of  God,  I  trust,  has 
quickened  me  to  a  new  and  divine  hfe.  But 
the  grace  already  communicated,  is  not 
enough  for  the  preservation,  and  demands  of 
this  life.  It  is  not  with  me,  as  it  was  with 
Adam.  He  had  received  his  spiritual  life  in 
perfection,  and  was  amply  furnished  for  all 
his  duties  and  temptations;  and  nothing  was 
required  but  watchfulness,  and  the  exercise 
of  his  inherent  power,  to  preserve  himself  in 
a  state  of  holiness.  Not  so  with  me.  I  can- 
not hve  on  grace  received.  My  life  is  hid 
with  Christ  in  God,  (Col.  iii.  3,)  and  must  be 
sustained  by  daily  supplies  of  grace  from  my 
covenant  Head.  With  what  beauty  does  the 
Redeemer  illustrate  the  truth,  and  with  what 
kindness,  enforce  the  corresponding  duty! 
*•  I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the 
husbandman.  Every  branch  in  me  that 
beareth  not  fruit  he  taketh  away:  and  every 
branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  purgeth  it,  that  it 
may  bring  forth  more  fruit.  Abide  in  me, 
and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch  cannot  bear 
fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide  in  the  vine:  no 
more  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me.  I  am 
the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches:  he  that  abideth 
in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  bringeth  forth 
much  fruit:  for  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing. 
If  a  man  abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as 
a  branch,  and  is  withered:  and  men  gather 
them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  they 
are  burned.*'  John  xv.  1-6. 

On  this  mystery  of  the  divine  life,  it  be- 
comes me  to  meditate  frequently  and  serious- 


184  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

iy ;  that,  by  bearing  in  mind  my  own  weak- 
ness, I  may  seek  and  derive  strength  from 
my  Redeemer.  Tlien  will  my  experience 
accord  with  that  of  Paul,  and  I  may  adopt 
his  language,  and  say,  "When  I  am  weak, 
then  am  I  strong."  2  Cor.  xii.  10.  The  more 
I  feel  my  weakness,  the  more  shall  I  feel  the 
need  of  help  from  above;  and  applying  the 
more  frequently  by  faith  and  prayer  to  my 
Redeemer  for  suppUes  of  his  grace,  he  will 
not  fail  to  grant  them,  and  render  me  strong 
in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might. 

After  the  extraordinary  visions  afforded  to 
this  great  and  highly  favoured  man,  there 
was  given  to  him  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,  the 
m.essenger  of  Satan  to  buffet  him,  lest  he 
should  be  exalted  above  measure.  Thrice  he 
besought  the  Lord  to  remove  from  him  this 
evil,  which  he  feared  would  be  a  serious  im- 
pediment to  his  usefulness  in  preaching  the 
gospel.  It  was  not  removed;  yet  his  prayer 
was  heard  and  answered  to  his  entire  satis- 
faction. "My  grace,"  said  his  Master,  "is 
sufficient  for  thee:  for  my  strength  is  made 
perfect  in  weakness."  This  divine  assurance 
was  sufficient  for  the  apostle,  who  imme- 
diately exclaimed,  "most  gladly,  therefore, 
will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infirmities,  that 
the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me. 
Therefore,  I  take  pleasure  in  infirmities,  in 
reproaches,  in  necessities,  in  persecutions,  in 
distresses,  for  Christ's  sake:  for  when  I  am 
weak,  then  am  I  strong."  2  Cor.  xii.  7-10. 

This  gracious  assurance,  let  it  be  remem- 


WATCHFULNESS.  185 

bered,  has  been  left  on  record,  for  my  benefit, 
and  that  of  all  believing  Christians.  What 
the  Redeemer  said  to  Paul,  he  says  to  us; 
''my  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee:  for  my 
strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness."  His 
divine  power  can  be  illustrated  in  my  weak- 
ness, as  well  as  it  was  in  that  of  Paul.  Had 
I  the  faith  of  this  holy  man,  I  might,  as  he 
did,  take  pleasure  in  my  infirmities,  that  my 
Redeemer  might  be  honoured,  by  the  sustain- 
ing influence  of  his  grace. 

Meditation,  then,  on  my  own  weakness, 
that  1  may  keep  it  in  constant  remembrance, 
will  have  no  tendency  to  discourage  me; 
provided  I  consider  it  in  connexion  with  the 
all-sufficiency  of  my  Redeemer.  He  can 
strengthen  me  in  my  weakness,  so  as  to  pre- 
pare me  for  every  trial  and  duty.  "For  it 
pleased  the  Father,  that  in  him  should  all 
fulness  dwell;  and  in  him  dwelleth  all  the 
fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily."  Col.  i  19; 
ii.  9.  "And  of  his  fulness,"  says  John,  "have 
all  we  received,  and  grace  for  grace."  John 
i.  16.  Here  is  a  fountain  of  grace  ever  full 
and  overflowing.  At  this  fountain  drank 
all  the  pious  who  lived  before  the  Saviour's 
advent,  and  all  who  have  lived  since  that 
period;  and  to  this  inexhaustible  fountain 
may  I  apply,  from  day  to  day,  as  long  as 
I  live,  and  draw  all  needful  supplies  of 
grace,  strength  and  consolation.  Here,  then, 
is  ample  encouragement  to  go  on  my  way 
rejoicing;  confiding  in  the  promise,  "God  is 
faithful,  who  will  not  sufler  you  to  be  tempted 


186  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

above  that  ye  are  able  to  bear ;  but  will  with 
the  temptation  also  make  a  way  to  escape, 
that  ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it."  1  Cor.  x.  13. 

PRAYER. 

Almighty  and  merciful  God,  grant  me 
grace,  that  I  may  ever  attend  to  the  great 
duty  of  Christian  watchfulness.  May  I 
always  bear  in  mind  my  own  weakness,  and 
insufficiency  for  the  conflict  in  which  I  am 
called  to  engage,  by  following  my  Lord  and 
Master.  Never  suffer  me,  I  beseech  thee,  by 
forgetting  my  weakness,  to  become  secure, 
and  lay  myself  open  to  surprise.  May  I 
always  be  awake  to  a  sense  of  danger; 
remembering  that  it  is  only  while  I  watch, 
and  pray,  and  exert  myself,  I  am  authorized 
to  expect  promised  aid. 

Let  me  profit  by  the  recorded  instances  of 
failure  in  duty,  by  eminent  saints;  and  take 
a  salutary  alarm,  when  I  reflect  on  the  sad 
and  disgraceful  falls  of  David,  and  Peter,  and 
others.  I  cannot  live  on  grace  received.  I  need 
a  daily  and  constant  supply  from  my  cove- 
nant Head,  Jesus  Christ,  our  Redeemer. 

But,  0  Lord,  I  know  that  while  I  cherish 
a  due  sense  of  my  own  weakness  and  depen- 
dence, I  have  no  ground  for  despondency  or 
discouragement.  Thou  art  Almighty,  and 
able  to  strengthen  me  with  all  might,  by  thy 
Spirit,  in  the  inner  man.  Thou  hast  pro- 
mised, that  we  shall  not  be  tempted  above 
tliat  we  are  able  to  bear;  and  that,  with  the 


187 

temptation,  a  way  to  escape  shall  be  made, 
that  we  may  be  able  to  bear  it.  On  thy 
gracious  promise,  I  desire  to  rely:  and  to 
place  myself  under  the  shadow  of  thy  pro- 
tecting wings. 

May  the  assurance  of  the  Saviour,  "  My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee;  for  my  strength 
is  made  perfect  in  weakness,^^  be  engraven 
on  my  memory  and  heart,  that  I  may  con- 
tinually rely  upon  his  promised  grace  and 
assistance.  0!  for  the  faith  of  the  apostle, 
to  be  enabled,  Hke  him,  to  glory  in  my  infir- 
mities, that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest 
upon  me;  and  find,  in  my  happy  experience, 
"when  I  am  weak,  then  am  1  strong.'^ 

Preserve  me,  0  my  God,  safe  unto  the  end. 
Give  me  the  victory  over  all  my  spiritual 
foes,  that  I  may,  at  last,  enter  into  thy  hea- 
venly kingdom,  and  rest  from  •  all  my  toils 
and  conflicts.  Hear  me,  0  Lord,  for  Christ's 
sake.     Amen. 


MEDITATION    XXVI. 


Reward!  What  reward  do  I  deserve,  for 
any  service  I  have  rendered  to  my  Lord 
and  Master?  Ah!  had  I  received  my  deserts, 
I  should,  at  this  moment,  have  been  a  cast- 
away ;  shut  up  in  the  prison  of  despair,  and 


188  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

groaning  under  the  weight  of  a  punishment 
just,  severe  and  endless.  But  God  had  mercy 
on  me,  and  was  pleased  to  make  me  partaker 
of  an  interest  in  the  righteousness  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Jesus  is  the  author  of  my  salvation. 
He  has  purchased,  by  his  death  and  obe- 
dience, all  the  blessings  I  have  received,  and 
shall  receive.  How  explicit  the  language  of 
sacred  Scripture  on  this  subject!  "  The  gift 
of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord."  Rom.  vi.  23.  "He  that  heareth 
my  words,  and  believeth  on  him  that  sent 
me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and  shall  not  come 
into  condemnation;  but  is  passed  from  death 
uuto  life."  John  v.  24.  There  is,  there- 
fore, now  no  condemnation  to  them  that 
are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the 
flesh,  but  after  the  spirit,"  Rom.  viii.  1; 
"who  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and 
was  raised  again  for  our  justification."  Rom. 
iv.  25.  "I  give  unto  them  eternal  life;  and 
they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any 
pluck  them  out  of  my  hand."  John  x.  17. 
"But  after  that  the  kindness  and  love  of  God 
our  Saviour  toward  man  appeared,  not  by 
works  of  righteousness  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy  he  saved  us,  by 
the  washing  of  regeneration,  and  the  renew- 
ing of  the  Holy  Ghost;  which  he  shed  on  us 
abundantly  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour; 
that  being  justified  by  his  grace,  we  should  be 
made  heirs,  according  to  the  hope  of  eternal 
life."  Tit.  iii.  4-7.  "  But  where  sin  abound- 
ed, grace  did  much  more  abound,  that  as  sin 


/ 


189 

hath  reigned  unto  death,  even  so  might  grace 
reign  through  righteousness  unto  eternal  hfe, 
by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."  Rom.  v.  20,  21. 

So  plainly  am  I  taught,  that  I  am  indebted 
to  the  merits  of  my  Redeemer  for  eternal  hfe, 
and  every  other  blessing  of  salvation.  All 
the  glory,  then,  belongs  to  him;  and  hence 
it  is,  I  have  access  to  the  throne  of  grace 
through  him,  and  am  directed  to  offer  all  my 
prayers  in  his  name. 

And  yet  the  infinite  wisdom  of  God  has 
established  a  connexion  between  my  obedi- 
ence to  his  law,  and  my  salvation.  Good 
\Vorks  are  necessary  to  salvation,  though 
destitute  of  any  merit;  and  for  the  encour- 
agement of  Christians,  and  to  quicken  and 
animate  their  zeal,  God  has  been  pleased  to 
present  their  future  happiness  in  the  light  of 
a  reward.  It  is  written,  "who  will  render 
to  every  man  according  to  his  deeds;  to  them 
who  by  patient  continuance  in  well  doing 
seek  for  glory  and  honour,  and  immortality, 
eternal  life."  Rom.  ii.  6,  7.  "For  God  is  not 
unrighteous  to  forget  your  work  and  labour 
of  love,  which  ye  have  showed  toward  his 
name,  in  that  ye  have  ministered  to  the 
saints,  and  do  minister.  And  we  desire 
that  every  one  of  you  do  show  the  same 
diligence  to  the  full  assurance  of  hope  unto 
the  end ;  that  ye  be  not  slothful,  but  follow- 
ers of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience 
inherit  the  promises."  Heb.  vi.  10-11.  "He 
that  soweth  sparingly,  shall  reap  also  spa- 
ringly; and  he  that  soweth  bountifully,  shall 


190  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

reap  also  boiintifally."  2  Cor.  ix.  6.  "And 
they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  bright- 
ness of  the  firmament;  and  they  that  turn 
many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  for  ever 
and  ever.^'  Dan.  xii.  3. 

While,  therefore,  I  am  permitted  to  con- 
template my  future  happiness  as  a  reward  of 
my  obedience,  let  me  never  forget  the  true 
connexion  between  them;  that  the  reward 
for  which  I  may  look,  is  a  reward  of  grace, 
bestowed  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ;  to 
whom  I  owe  all  my  present  privileges  and 
hopes ;  and  to  whose  merits  I  shall  hereafter 
owe  my  admission  into  heaven,  my  acquittjfl 
in  the  day  of  judgment,  and  the  bestowment 
of  eternal  life. 

Thus  instructed,  contemplate,  my  soul,  the 
glorious  reward  of  Christians.  How  bright, 
how  brilliant,  how  transcendent!  Gaze  at 
it;  and  let  it  awaken  thy  ambition,  and  cap- 
tivate all  thy  desires,  and  throw  into  the 
shade  all  those  inferior  objects  of  this  world, 
that  would  dispute  for  the  supremacy  of  thy 
heart. 

What  will  be  thy  reward?  "Be  thou 
faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a 
crown  of  ///e,"  is  the  promise  of  thy  Re- 
deemer. Rev.  ii.  10.  Not  a  crown  of  gold, 
studded  with  jewels,  and  brilliant  with  dia- 
monds; such  as  adorn  the  heads  of  earthly 
monarchs.  These  are  not  crowns  of  life. 
They  pass  from  head  to  head,  and  will  at 
last  be  lost  in  the  final  conflagration  of  the 
world.  A  crown  of  life  is  incoaceivably  more 


191 

valuable  than  the  richest  crown  that  ever 
decked  a  mortal's  brow.  It  will  never  fade; 
it  will  increase  in  brilliancy  with  the  lapse  of 
ages.  No  cares,  no  anxieties  will  it  produce 
in  my  breast.  Secured  to  me  by  the  immu- 
table promise  of  God,  it  will  fill  my  soul 
with  unutterable  peace  and  joy.  It  can 
never  be  lost;  it  will  through  eternal  ages 
adorn  my  brow. 

Again,  I  read  another  promise  of  my  Re- 
deemer; "He  that  overcometh,  the  same 
shall  he  clothed  in  white  raiment;  and  I  will 
not  blot  out  his  name  out  of  the  book  of  life, 
but  I  will  confess  his  name  before  my  Father, 
and  before  his  angels."  Rev.  iii.  5.  What  a 
delightful  promise !  Here  my  garments  are 
soiled  and  blackened  by  sin ;  but  hereafter  they 
will  be  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  L^mb,made 
white,  and  kept  white,  and  free  from  every 
stain.  I  shall  be  perfectly  freed  from  sin,  and 
shine  for  ever  in  the  beauties  of  holiness.  My 
name,  now  recorded  in  the  book  of  life,  will 
never  be  erased,  but  remain  written  there  for 
ever.  And  in  the  day  of  judgment,  when  the 
univ^erse  shall  be  assembled,  my  worthless 
name  will  be  confessed  before  the  eternal 
Father,  and  before  his  holy  angels.  The 
Lord  of  glory  will  acknowledge  me  as  an 
elect  one,  redeemed  by  his  blood,  sanctified 
by  his  Spirit,  adopted  into  his  family,  and 
constituted  an  heir  to  an  eternal  inheritance ! 
What  honour !  what  blessedness  ! 

To  raise  my  hope  still  higher,  the  Redeemer 
utters  another  promise:  "  To  him  that  over- 


192  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

Cometh  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  on  my 
throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set 
down  with  my  Father  on  his  throne.'^  Rev. 
iii.  21.  What  a  promise!  What  human 
mind  can  comprehend  its  import?  Well 
might  the  apostle  say,  "Beloved,  now  are 
we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  ap- 
pear what  we  shall  be,"  1  John  iii.  2 :  and 
another,  "  For  we  know  that  the  whole  crea- 
tion groaneth  and  travaileth  in  pain  together 
until  now.  And  not  only  they,  but  ourselves 
also,  which  have  the  first  fruits  of  the. Spirit, 
even  we  ourselves,  groan  within  ourselves, 
waiting  for  the  adoption,  to  wit,  the  redemp- 
tion of  our  body.'^  Rom.  viii.  22,  23. 

Compared  with  the  rich,  and  glorious,  and 
infinite  reward  that  my  Redeemer  will  be- 
stow on  -my  fidelity,  what  are  the  objects 
which  the  world  holds  out  to  tempt  my  am- 
bition, and  entice  my  heart?  Its  treasures, 
compared  with  eternal  treasures  in  heaven ; 
its  honours,  compared  with  the  honours  which 
the  Judge  of  the  universe  will  bestow  on  his 
faithful  followers;  its  pleasures,  polluted  and 
fading,  compared  with  the  pure,  refined, 
transporting  and  enduring  pleasures  of  im- 
mortal beings — what  are  they?  The  small 
dust  of  the  balance!  a  drop  to  the  ocean! 

Rise  then,  my  soul,  and  let  a  heavenly 
ambition  animate  thy  desires,  and  redouble 
thy  exertions,  in  the  service  of  thy  gracious 
Lord  and  Master.  Seek  those  things  which 
are  above,  where  Christ  Jesus  sitteth  on  the 
right  hand  of  God.     Set  thy  afiections  on 


PRAYER.  193 

things  above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth. 
Col.  iii.  1,  2.  In  imitation  of  the  holy  aposlie, 
"  forgetting  the  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things  that  are  be- 
fore, press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calUng  of  God  in  Ciirist  Jesus." 
Phil.  iii.  13,  14. 

What,  0  my  soul,  are  all  thy  exertions, 
and  labours,  and  sorrows,  and  afflictions,  and 
sufterings,  to  the  eternal  joy  set  before  thee  ? 
Canst  thou  not  say  with  Paul,  "for  our  light 
affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  work- 
eth  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory;  while  we  look  not  at  the 
things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  not  seen:  for  the  things  which  are 
seen  are  temporal;  but  the  things  which  are 
not  seen  are  eternal.'^  2  Cor.  iv.  17,  18. 

Welcome,  death,  to  put  me  in  possession  of 
a  crown  of  life!  Welcome,  death,  to  clothe 
me  with  white  raiment,  and  secure  such 
glory  to  my  humble  name,  as  will  be  attach- 
ed to  it  by  a  gracious  acknowledgment  of  it 
by  my  Redeemer!  Welcome,  death,  that  I 
may  gain  a  seat  on  my  Saviour's  throne,  and 
be  like  him;  living  and  reigning  with  him  in 
immortal  blessedness  and  endless  glory. 

PRAYER. 

Blessed  Redeemer,  how  infinite  thy  con- 
descension aiid  mercy!  I  am  a  poor  mise- 
rable sinner,  destitute  of  all  merit,  and  deser- 
ving eternal  banishment  from  heaven,  and 


194  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

eternal  confinement  in  hell.  But  thou,  in 
infinite  love,  wast  pleased  to  undertake  to 
deliver  me  and  other  sinners  of  the  human 
race,  to  atone  for  our  sins,  to  purchase  for  us 
pardon,  sanctification,  and  eternal  life.  And 
yet,  for  our  encouragement,  and  to  animate 
our  exertions  in  doing  thy  will,  thou  art 
pleased  to  permit  us  to  look  at  heavenly 
blessings,  in  the  light  of  a  reward.  Thou 
hast  promised  to  him  who  is  faithful  unto 
death,  a  crown  of  life;  to  clothe  him  with 
white  raiment,  and  to  confess  his  name  before 
thy  Father,  and  his  holy  angels;  and  that 
thou  wilt  grant  that  he  shall  sit  with  thee  in 
thy  throne,  even  as  thou  didst  overcome,  and 
art  set  down  with  thy  Father  in  his  throne. 
Amazing  promises!  Inconceivable  happi- 
ness and  glory! 

My  gracious  Saviour,  I  would  look  at 
these  promises,  and  gaze  at  the  wonderful 
rewards  they  hold  forth,  in  the  light  in 
which  thou  hast  been  pleased  to  present 
them ;  to  encourage  and  animate  my  heart  in 
following  and  serving  thee.  But  I  desire  to 
bear  in  mind  the  true  connexion  between  my 
obedience  and  fidelity,  and  the  promised 
reward.  It  is  a  connexion  of  grace,  and  not 
of  merit.  Never  may  I  forget  that  all  the 
blessings  of  the  heavenly  state,  were  pur- 
chased by  thy  precious  blood,  and  that  eter- 
nal life  will  be  the  gift  of  God,  through  thy 
meritorious  obedience. 

Grant,  0  my  Redeemer,  that  I  may  never 
lose  sight  of  the  truth ;  and  that,  while  I  look 


195 

for  eternal  life  as  a  promised  reward  of  my 
poor  services  and  adherence  to  thy  glorious 
cause  in  this  sinful  world,  I  may  always 
cherish  an  affectionate  remembrance,  that  I 
shall  be  indebted  for  a  seat  in  thy  kingdom 
in  heaven  to  thy  infinite  vierits. 

To  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
be  all  glory,  both  now  and  for  ever.     Amen. 


MEDITATION    XXVII. 


Joy  is  a  delightful  passion,  or  affection  of  the 
soul.  It  belongs  to  human  nature ;  and  is 
excited  by  the  possession  or  expectation  of 
some  good.  The  wicked  rejoice,  when  their 
corn  and  their  wine  abound.  The  bride- 
groom rejoices  over  his  bride.  The  merchant 
rejoices  at  the  arrival  of  his  richly  freighted 
ship ;  and  at  the  prospect  of  the  success  of  a 
gainful  enterprise  in  which  he  has  embarked. 
By  '*  giving  them  rain  from  heaven,  and 
fruitful  seasons,  God  fills  the  hearts  of  men 
with  food  and  gladness."  Acts  xiv,  17. 

And  have  Christians  no  peculiar  reasons 
for  rejoicing?  What  is  the  language  of 
sacred  Scripture  on  this  subject?  "Rejoice 
in  the  Lord,  0  ye  righteous;  for  praise  is 
comely  for   the   upright.''    Psal.  xxxiii.   1. 


196  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

"Rejoice  in  the  Lord, ye  righteous;  and  give 
thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  his  holiness.'' 
Psal.  xcvii.  12.  "Finally, my  brethren,"  says 
Paul,  "rejoice  in  the  Lord."  Phil.  iii.  1. 
"Rejoice  in  tlie  Lord  alway:  and  again  I 
say,  Rejoice."  Phil.  iv.  4.  From  these  pas- 
sages and  many  more  that  might  be  quoted,  it 
evidently  appears  to  be  both  the  privilege 
and  the  duty  of  Christians  to  rejoice,  at  all 
times,  in  all  places,  and  in  all  circumstances. 
"  My  brethren,"  is  the  language  of  James, 
"count  it  all  joy,  when  ye  fall  into  divers 
temptations ;  knowing  this,  that  the  trying  of 
your  faith  worketh  patience."  James  i.  1,2. 
Similar  is  the  language  of  Paul :  "  By  whom 
also  we  have  access  by  faith  into  this  grace 
wherein  we  stand,  and  rejoice  in  hope  of  the 
glory  of  God.  And  not  only  so,  but  we 
glory  in  tribulation  also;  knowing  that  tribu- 
lation worketh  patience ;  and  patience  expe- 
rience; and  experience  hope;  and  hope 
niaketh  not  ashamed;  because  the  love  of 
God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  which  is  given  unto  us."  Rom.  v.  2-5, 
Peter  accords  with  both  apostles:  "Wherein 
ye  greatly  rejoice,  though  now  for  a  season, 
if  need  be,  ye  are  in  heaviness  through  mani- 
fold temptations:  that  the  trial  of  your  faith, 
being  much  more  precious  than  of  gold  that 
perisheth,  though  it  be  tried  with  fire,  might 
be  found  unto  praise  and  honour  and  glory 
at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ:  whom 
having  not  seen,  ye  love  ;  in  whom,  though 
now  ye  see  him  not,  yet  belie vmg,  ye  rejoice 


THE    christian's    JOY.  197 

with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory/' 
1  Pet.  i.  6-S. 

And  does  not  thy  experience,  0  my  soul, 
accord  with  these  testimonies  of  inspired 
writers?  Hast  thou  not  tasted  the  sweet  and 
delightful  nature  of  Christian  joy?  When 
thy  mind  was  first  enlightened  to  see  the  ful- 
ness and  glory  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  wast 
enabled  to  believe  in,  and  to  embrace  him, 
as  thy  Saviour,  was  not  thy  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory  ?  And  in  tliy  afflictions  and 
trials  hast  thou  not  been  supported  by  the 
joy  of  faith  and  hope  ?  "Has  not  religion 
spread  over  thee  a  sweet  and  blessed  serenity 
of  mind?  Be  thankful  for  what  grace  has 
done  for  thee.  Yet  thou  hast  failed  in  the 
exercise  of  thy  privilege,  and  in  the  discharge 
of  thy  duty  in  reference  to  Christian  joy. 
Thou  hast  not  rejoiced  in  the  Lord,  as  thou 
oughtest. 

Let  me  review  my  sources  of  joy,  and  see 
how  abundant  they  are. 

I.  The  change  of  my  relative  state,  is  one. 
Born  in  sin,  I  came  into  the  world  under 
sentence  of  condemnation.  It  was  a  fearful 
state,  to  live  under  the  wrath  of  God,  hasten- 
ing on  in  the  broad  road  to  everlasting  de- 
struction !  Mercy  came  to  my  relief.  God 
was  pleased  to  awaken  and  alarm  me,  at  a 
sight  of  my  danger.  He  presented  to  my 
eyes  the  great  Redeemer,  and  wrought  faith 
in  my  heart.  And  now  I  am  pardoned,  re- 
conciled to  God,  accepted  and  adopted  into 
17 


198  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

his  family,  and  blest  with   hope.      What  a 
a  change  !     How  great  and  joyful. 

2.  The  change  which  grace  has  wrought  in 
my  nature  is  another  source  of  joy.  Defiled 
by  original  sin,  and  destitute  of  holiness,  I 
was,  by  nature,  at  enmity  with  God.  As  I 
grew,  up  1  became  more  and  more  depraved, 
and  alienated  from  my  Creator ;  and  had  I 
been  left  to  myself,  I  should  have  for  ever 
remained  the  slave  of  sin,  and  utterly  unfit 
for  heaven.  But  thanks  to  God,  he  saw  me 
in  my  woeful  condition,  and  bade  me  live. 
He  sent  his  Holy  Spirit  who  quickened  me, 
when  I  was  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  He 
imparted  to  me  a  new  and  divine  life,  to  love 
and  serve  God.  The  purifying  work  is  be- 
gun, by  which  I  am  delivered  from  the  bon- 
dage and  dominion  of  sin ;  and  it  will  be 
carried  on,  till  I  shall  be  entirely  free  from  all 
sin,  and  fitted  for  a  residence  in  heaven.  And 
is  not  this  great  change  in  my  moral  nature 
a  spring  of  great  joy;  one  for  which  I  should 
be  exceedingly^  grateful  to  the  Divine  Author? 

3.  Another  source  of  joy,  is  the  portion  my 
soul  has  chosen.  Like  that  of  other  men, 
the  world  was  my  portion.  In  my  blindness 
I  pursued  after  its  enticing  objects;  as'  if 
riches,  honours,  and  pleasures,  could  render 
me  happy.  I  was  destitute  of  loftier  views; 
I  knew  of  no  better  portion;  till  God  was 
pleased  to  show  me  my  folly,  and  expose  the 
vanity  of  earthly  things  as  a  portion  for  an 
immortal  creature.  He  graciously  addressed 
to  me  these  wonderful  words :  "  Wherefore 


THE    christian's    JOY.  199 

come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  sepa- 
rate, saith  the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  un- 
clean thing ;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  will 
be  a  Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  my 
sons  and  daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty/' 
2  Cor.  vi.  17,  18.  Accepting  this  all  gracious 
offer,  I  have  through  grace,  taken  God  the 
Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the  Holy 
Ghost,  three  Persons  in  one  Godhead,  to  be 
my  God  and  portion,  for  ever;  ratified  by  a 
covenant  transaction.  What  a  portion  !  How 
infinitely  more  valuable  than  the  world ! 
"  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and 
there  is  none  upon  eartli  that  I  desire  beside 
thee.  My  flesh  and*  my  heart  faileth  :  but 
God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  por- 
tion for  ever."  Psal.  Ixxiii.  25,  26. 

4.  The  Providence  of  God  constitutes  a 
soiu'ce  of  much  joy.  The  world  is  not  under 
the  government  of  blind  chance.  "  The  Lord 
reigneth;  let  the  earth  rejoice;  let  the  multi- 
tude of  the  isles  be  glad  thereof."  Psal. 
xcvii.  1.  How  delightful  this  truth!  My  af- 
fairs are  all  in  the  hands  of  an  infinitely  wise 
Being,  my  covenant  God.  He  knows  how 
to  choose  for  me,  far  better  than  I  do;  when 
to  afflict,  and  when  to  comfort ;  when  to  fa- 
vour me  with  prosperity,  and  when  to  visit 
me  with  adversity.  I  am  cheered  with  the 
blessed  assurance,  "  And  we  know  that  al! 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  God,  to  them  who  are  called  according 
to  his  purpose."  Rom.  viii.  28.  "  Many  are 
the  afflictions  of  the  righteous:  but  the  Lord 


200  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

delivereth  him  out  of  them  all."  Psal.  xxxiv. 
19.  How  consoHng  the  direction!  "Trust 
in  the  Lord,  and  do  good;  so  shalt  thou 
dwell  in  the  land,  and  verily  thou  shalt  be 
fed.  Delight  thyself  also  in  the  Lord  ;  and 
he  shall  give  thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart. 
Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord;  trust  also 
in  him;  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass.  And 
he  shall  bring  forth  thy  righteousness  as  the 
light,  and  thy  judgment  as  the  noon- day. 
Rest  in  the  Lord,  and  wait  patiently  for  him; 
fret  not  thyself  because  of  him  who  prosper- 
eth  in  his  way,  because  of  the  man  who 
bringeth  wicked  devices  to  pass.  Cease  from 
anger,  and  forsake  wrath;  fret  not  thyself  in 
any  wise  to  do  evil.  For  evil  doers  shall  be 
cut  off:  but  those  that  wait  upon  the  Lord, 
they  shall  inherit  the  earth."  Psal.  xxxvii. 
3—9. 

5.  The  promises  of  God  furnish  another 
plentiful  spiHng  of  joy.  They  are,  as  Peter 
says,  "  exceeding  great  and  precious."  2  Pet. 
i.  4.  They  meet  and  cover  every  circum- 
stance that  can  occur,  make  provision  for 
every  want,  and  comprehend  every  blessing 
of  this  life,  and  of  the  life  to  come.  How 
rich  and  full  these  promises!  "For  the  Lord 
God  is  a  sun  and  shield:  the  Lord  will  give 
grace  and  glory:  no  good  thing  will  he  with- 
hold from  them  that  walk  uprightly."  Psal. 
Ixxxiv.  IL  "Be  content  with  such  things 
as  ye  have:  for  he  hath  said,  I  will  never 
leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee."  Heb.  xiii.  5. 
^*But  my  God  shall  supply  all  your  need 


THE    christian's    JOY.  201 

according  to  his  riches  in  glor^  by  Christ 
Jesus."  Phil.  iv.  19.  "Be  careful  for  no- 
thing; but,  in  every  thing  by  prayer  and 
supplication  with  thanksgiving,  let  your  re- 
quest be  made  known  unto  God.  And  the 
peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understand- 
ing, shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  through 
Christ  Jesus." 'Phil.  iv.  6,  7.  The  Bible  is 
full  of  promises;  and  should  they  not  sustain 
my  faith,  and  awaken  my  joy?  They  were 
given  and  confirmed,  that  we  who  have  fled 
for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before 
lis,  might  have  strong  consolation.  Heb.  vi. 
17,  18. 

6.  To  all  these  sources  of  joy,  I  must  add  ?ni/ 
prospects  in  regard  to  a  future  world.  How 
sublime  and  glorious!  My  Saviour  has  gone 
into  heaven,  where  he  reigns  in  infinite  glory; 
and  has  promised  to  come  and  receive  me  to 
himself,  that  where  he  is,  there  I  shall  be 
also;  rejoicing  with  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect  in  his  presence,  and  waiting  in  jo^^ful 
expectation  for  the  resurrection  of  m)^  body, 
to  be  fashioned  Hke  to  his  most  glorious 
body;  and  then,  after  judgment,  to  dwell  and 
reign  with  him,  in  the  highest  heaven,  in 
perfect  happiness  and  endless  glory.  Inva- 
luable hope! 

What  abundant  and  fruitful  sources  of  joy, 
are  here  set  before  me !  A  wonderful  change 
has  been  produced  by  grace  in  my  relative 
state;  a  blessed  change  has  been  wrought  in 
my  nature  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  God  the  Fa- 
ther, Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  has  become  my 


202  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS.  1 

i 

reconciled  God  and  covenanted  portion;  on  ; 
the  care  of  his  providence,  I  may  cast  all  my 
burdens,  and  look  to  him  for  wisdom  and  j 
guidance,  support  and  protection;  his  pro-  ; 
mises  on  which  I  depend,  are  exceedingly  ' 
great  and  precious;  and  my  hope  beyond  the  i 
grave,  is  indescribably  glorious.  I 

With  such  sources  of  joy  opened,  and  to         \ 
which  I  may  constantly  apply,  why  do  I  not         : 
rejoice  more?     Let  me  take  a  lesson  from  a        | 
man  of  the  world.     His  heart  is  set  on  the 
object  of  his  pursuit,  and  he  pursues  after  it         ; 
with  unquenchable  desire.     He  loses  it  by 
some  misfortune;  he  is  deprived  of  his  wealth,         ; 
or  of  his  honour.     How  is  he  troubled  and 
distressed !    He  cannot  withdraw  his  thoughts         • 
from  the  dear  object  which  he  has  lost.     He         , 
thinks  of  it  by  day  and  by  night;  and  refuses         ; 
to  be  comforted.  '      \ 

Now,  my  soul,  if  thy  thoughts  were  more 
turned  to  the  rich  sources  of  joy  set  before 
thee,  and  thy  heart  were  more   devoted  to         ! 
heavenly  objects,  wouldst  thou  not   rejoice 
more?    Endeavour  to  love  more  the  spiritual 
blessings  bestowed  on  thee,  to  give  thy  heart         ; 
more  unreservedly  to  thy  covenant  God,  and 
to  prize  more  highly  thy  hope  of  future  bless- 
edness ;  and  then  thou  wilt  think  more  of  the         ^ 
wonders  which  divine  grace  has  wrought  for         i 
thee,  and  be  enabled  to  Uve  more  in  the  en-         ; 
joyment  of  thy  privileges.     Thou  wilt  go  on         I 
thy  way  rejoicing,  and  find  the  joy  of  the         ' 
Lord  thy  strength.     Neh.  viii.  10. 


PRAYER.  203 


PRAYER. 


0  my  God,  what  abundant  reasons  thou 
hast  furnished  me,  for  unceasing  joy  !  Thou 
hast  produced  a  glorious  change  in  my  rela- 
tive state;  chargeable  with  innumerable  sins, 
thou  hast  pardoned  me;  condemned,  thou 
hast  justified  me;  in  a  state  of  enmity,  thou 
hast  reconciled  me  to  thyself;  and  expelled 
from  thy  family,  thou  hast  adopted  me;  my 
nature,  corrupted  and  vile  by  sin,  thou  hast 
sanctified,  and  art  fitting  for  heaven,  by  the 
purifying  operations  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Thou 
hast  condescended  to  become  the  portion  of 
my  soul.  On  the  care  of  thy  ever  watchful 
providence,  I  am  permitted  to  cast  myself,  and 
to  intrust  all  my  affairs  to  the  disposal  of  infi- 
nite wisdom  and  mercy.  Thy  promises  are 
exceedingly  rich  and  precious.  And  thou 
hast  lighted  up  in  my  soul  the  hope  of  im- 
mortal blessedness.  Who  should  rejoice,  if  I 
do  not,  who  have  access  to  such  inexhaust- 
ible springs  of  joy?  It  is  my  duty  to  rejoice 
daily  in  the  Lord.  Nothing  should  extin- 
guish my  joy.  I  should  rejoice  in  adversity, 
as  well  as  in  prosperity;  in  afflictions,  as  well 
as  when  exempt  from  them.  But  I  have 
failed  in  this  dehghtful  duty.  Oh!  for  grace 
to  adopt  the  prophet's  language:  "  Although 
the  fig  tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall 
fruit  be  found  in  the  vine;  the  labour  of  the 
olive  shall  fail,  and  the  fields  shall  yield  no 
meat  J  the  flocks  shaU  be  cut  off  from  the 


204  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stall: 
yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord ;  I  will  joy  in 
the  God  of  my  salvation."  Hab.  Hi.  17,  18. 

Grant  me  grace,  I  beseech  thee,  0  God,  to 
enable  me  to  perform  this  cheering  duty;  let 
joy  beam  continually  in  my  eyes,  that  those 
who  behold  me,  may  see  the  blessed  and 
lovely  nature  of  religion ;  and  be  induced  to 
come,  and  taste,  and  see,  that  the  Lord  is 
good  and  gracious,  and  kind  to  them  who 
hope  in  his  mercy.  Let  me  rejoice  always 
in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  In  the  name 
of  Christ  thy  Son,  I  pray.     Amen. 


MEDITATION  XXVIIL 

DEPENDENCE    ON    THE    HOLY    SPIRIT. 

In  the  economy  of  man's  redemption,  the 
Holy  Spirit  has  been  pleased  to  assume  the 
office  of  applying  the  benefits  purchased  by 
the  Son,  to  the  souls  of  men,  and  putting 
them  in  possession  of  his  complete  salvation. 
It  is  his  work  to  enlighten  the  siuner^s  dark- 
ened mind;  for  says  the  Redeemer,  "When 
he  is  come  he  will  reprove  the  world  of  sin, 
and  of  righteousness  and  of  judgment.''  "He 
shall  glorify  me :  for  he  shall  receive  of  mine, 
and  shall  show  it  unto  you."  John  xvi.  8.  14. 
"  The  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of 


THE    HOLY    SPIRIT.  206 

the  Spirit  of  God ;  for  they  are  foohshness  unto 
him:  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they 
are  sphitually  discerned."  1  Cor.  ii.  14. 

It  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  to  sanctify  the 
soul.  We  are  born  of  the  Spirit.  John  iii.  5. 
We  are  saved  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Tit. 
iii.  5.  ''God  hath  from  the  beginning  chosen 
you  to  salvation,  through  sanctification  of  the 
Spirit  and  belief  of  the  truth."  2  Thess.  ii.  13. 

The  Holy  Spirit  teaches  us  how  to  pray: 
"Likewise  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infir- 
mities: for  we  know  not  what  we  should 
pray  for  as  we  ought:  but  the  Spirit  itself 
maketh  intercession  for  us,  with  groanings 
which  cannot  be  uttered."  Rom.  viii.  26. 

He  is  the  Spirit  of  adoption,  who  forms 
believers  to  a  filial  temper,  and  bears  witness 
with  their  Spirit  that  they  are  the  children  of 
God.  Rom.  viii«  14,  15,  16.  Gal.  iv.  5,  6. 

He  is  their  strength.  The  prayer  of  Paul 
is,  "that  he  would  grant  you,  according  to 
the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be  strengthened 
with  might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner  man." 
Ephes.  iii.  16. 

In  fine,  he  is  the  author  of  every  grace. 
"The  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace, 
long  sufi'ering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
meekness,  temperance."  Gal.  v.  22,  23. 

So  we  are  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures 
to  believe  concerning  the  ofiice  and  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  And  have  I  not  found  the 
truth  verified  in  my  own  experience?  Is  it 
not  owing  to  his  gracious  operations  on  my 
18 


206  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

soul,  that  I  have  become  a  partaker  of  the 
great  salvation  of  Jesus  Christ? 

How  dark  and  ignorant  was  my  mind  in 
regard  to  spiritual  things!  I  read  the  word 
of  God,  and  heard  the  voice  of  the  living 
ministry.  All  was  in  vain,  till  the  Spirit 
shed  his  light  upon  my  mind.  Darkness  still 
covered  my  soul;  and  I  slumbered  on,  secure 
and  unconcerned  about  my  immortal  inter- 
ests. But  when  he  who  commanded  the 
light  at  first  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  was 
pleased  to  shine  into  my  heart,  what  disco- 
veries were  made!  I  saw  my  guilt,  deprav- 
ity, and  danger.  I  trembled.  Fearfulness 
took  hold  on  me;  I  found  no  rest,  till  the 
blessed  Spirit  was  pleased  to  reveal  the 
Saviour  in  his  fulness  to  me,  and  let  me  see 
how  able  and  willing  he  was  to  save  every 
one  that  came  to  him.  And  ever  since  I 
have  felt  my  dependence  on  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  his  illuminating  influence.  How  darkness 
veils  my  mind,  whenever  he  withdraws  his 
light !  But  when  he  throws  his  light  upon 
the  sacred  page,  and  illuminates  my  soul, 
how  changed  the  scene!  What  wonderful 
things  are  seen  in  the  word!  With  what 
pleasure  do  I  think  of  God,  and  Christ,  and 
heavenly  things!  How  is  the  mystery  of 
redeeming  love  unfolded!  How  plainly  is 
the  path  to  heaven  marked  out  before  me ! 
Never  forget,  my  soul,  thy  need  of  the  illumi- 
nating influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  daily 
pray  for  it. 

Not  less  dependent  am  I  on  the  grace  of 


■  THE    HOLT    SPIRIT.  207 

the  Spirit  for  sanctification.  I  was  dead  in 
sin,  destitute  of  holiness,  averse  from  God, 
indisposed  to  holy  action,  and  indeed  unable 
to  perform  any  acts  of  the  kind,  till  the  Holy 
Spirit  entered  into  my  soul  and  imparted  to  it 
spiritual  life.  At  his  command,  my  soul  arose 
from  the  death  of  sin.  I  received  from  his 
gracious  power  ability  for  holy  action.  Faith 
and  penitence,  love,  hope  and  joy,  were 
wrought  in  my  soul.  I  could  love  God  and 
man.  My  affections  were  turned  from  earth 
to  heaven.  I  delighted  in  spiritual  things, 
and  felt  my  heart  drawn  out  especially  to  the 
household  of  faith.  The  yoke  of  Christ  was 
easy  and  his  burden  light.  It  was  a  pleasure 
to  yield  obedience  to  the  divine  command- 
ments. But  were  the  Spirit  of  life  to  with- 
draw his  gracious  influence,  my  soul  would 
relapse  into  the  arms  of  spiritual  death. 
Blessed  be  God  for  the  assurance,  that  the 
Comforter  shall  abide  in  us  for  ever.  John 
xiv.  16.  Grieved  by  our  unchristian  conduct 
he  may  depart,  in  a  measure  and  for  a  sea- 
son. Then  the  soul  languishes,  just  as  the 
branch  begins  to  fade  and  wither,  when  the 
regular  circulation  of  the  vital  sap  from  the 
vine,  is  obstructed.  Under  the  suspension  of 
the  Spirit's  gracious  influence,  how  do  all  the 
graces  of  faith,  and  love,  and  joy,  and  hope, 
decline! 

Before  the  blessed  Spirit  taught  me  how 
to  pray,  and  helped  my  infirmities,  I  could 
say  my  prayers;  but  I  could  not  worship 
God  in  spirit  and  in  truth.    Under  his  hea- 


208  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

venly  influence  how  sweet  is  this  exercise  of 
the  soul !  How  freely  can  I  approach  the 
throne  of  grace !  How  am  I  emboldened  to 
enter  into  the  holiest  of  all,  and,  appearing  in 
the  presence  of  infinite  Majesty,  pour  out  the 
fulness  of  my  heart  before  him,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  of  prayer 
and  supplication !  But,  when  not  thus  fa- 
voured, my  intercourse  with  God  becomes 
formal;  and  I  have  to  complain  of  coldness, 
and  languor,  and  dulness,  of  my  want  of 
faith  and  fervency  of  desire.  Oh!  for  the 
spirit  and  the  grace  of  prayer ! 

How  desirable  the  witness  of  the  Spirit ! 
He  does  bear  witness  with  the  spirits  of 
believers,  that  they  are  the  children  of  God, 
both  in  an  ordinary  and  in  an  extraordinary 
manner.  When  he  imparts  his  extraordinary 
witness,  the  soul  can  no  more  doubt  it,  than 
the  prophets  could  doubt  that  they  were  in- 
spired. The  Spirit  is  then  seen  in  his  own 
light,  just  as  the  sun  is  in  his  light.  If,  my 
soul,  this  especial  favour  has  been  vouchsai'ed 
to  thee,  thou  knowest  the  meaning  of  this 
extraordinary  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
thou  hast  had  experience  of  the  love,  and 
joy,  and  hope,  lighted  up  by  the  heavenly 
vision;  thou  didst  rejoice  in  the  assurance  of 
thy  adoption  into  the  family  of  God,  and 
couldst  cry  with  unfaltering  tongue,  "Abba, 
Father." 

It  is  not,  however,  from  this  extraordinary 
witness  of  the  Spirit,  that  a  settled,  abiding 
conviction  of  being  in  a  gracious  state  of 


THE    HOLY    SPIRIT.  •  209 

divine  acceptance,  is  to  be  obtained.  The 
heavenly  vision  is  soon  withdrawn;  and  may 
after  a  while  be  succeeded  by  doubts  and 
fears.  Such,  my  soul,  thou  hast  experienced  ; 
and  thou  hast  been  stirred  to  diligence  in 
endeavours  to  make  thy  calling  and  election 
sure.  Hast  thou,  by  studying  the  nature  of 
the  Spirit's  gracious  work,  by  repeated  self- 
examination,  and  earnest  prayer  for  his  wit- 
ness, arrived  at  a  settled  belief  of  having 
enjoyed  his  renewing  grace,  and  of  being  in 
a  state  of  friendship  with  God  through  Jesus 
Christ?  Be  thankful  for  the  blessing,  and 
walk  with  humility  and  watchfulness,  de- 
pending on  the  hght  and  teaching  and  assist- 
ance of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

And  is  he  not  the  strength  of  my  soul? 
When  the  Spirit  imparts  his  grace,  my  faith 
is  strong,  my  hope  bright,  and  my  purpose 
firm;  and, trusting  in  God,  I  can  go  on  cheer- 
fully in  the  path  of  duty,  boldly  meet  my 
enemies,  and  patiently  endure  trials  and 
afflictions.  But  how  different  my  experience, 
when  he  is  pleased  in  any  measure  to  with- 
draw his  strengthening  influence! 

Thus,  in  these  various  ways,  I  am  taught 
my  entire  and  constant  dependence  on  the 
grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  But  how  slow  am 
I  in  learning  this  great  truth,  so  essential  to 
my  security  and  progress  in  the  divine  life  ! 
Forget  it  not,  my  soul;  let  it  be  imprinted 
deeply  on  thy  memory,  and  keep  thee  watch- 
ful and  prayerful.  So  shall  the  Comforter 
dwell  in  thee  for  ever,  and  be  a  fountain  of 


210  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

light,  of  grace,  of  strength,  and  of  joy;  till 
having  finished  thy  conrse  on  earth,  thou 
shalt  have  arrived  at  that  perfect  state  of 
holiness  and  blessedness,  where  variations  in 
feelings,  depressions  of  spirits,  and  doubts 
and  fears,  will  be  unknown;  and  where  thou 
wilt  exult  for  ever  in  fulness  of  light,  and  joy, 
and  glory. 

PRAYER. 

Holy  Spirit,  one  with  the  Father  and  the 
Son,  I  acknowledge  thee  to  be  the  author  of 
all  spiritual  light,  and  grace,  and  strength,  to 
my  soul.  Thou  hast  assumed  the  office  of 
applying  the  purchased  salvation  of  Christ  to 
the  children  of  men,  and  of  preparing  them 
for  an  eternal  residence  in  heaven.  Hast 
thou  not  quickened  my  soul  to  a  divine  life  ? 
Hast  thou  not  enlightened  my  dark  mind 
with  heavenly  light?  Hast  thou  not  renewed 
and  sanctified  my  depraved  nature?  Hast 
thou  not  taught  me  how  to  pray?  Hast  thou 
not  borne  witness  with  my  spirit,  that  I  am  a 
child  of  God?  And  hast  thou  not  sealed  me 
unto  the  day  of  redemption?  I  thank  thee, 
0  gracious  Spirit,  for  these  great  and  signal 
favours.  Dwell  in  my  heart  for  ever.  Work 
there  with  greater  power.  Subdue  and  ex- 
pel from  my  soul  every  depraved  lust  and 
sinful  desire.  Carry  on  and  perfect  in  me 
thy  blessed  work.  Cherish  within  me  every 
Christian  grace  and  virtue.  Impress  on  me 
the  image  of  my  divine  Redeemer.  Strengthen 
me  with  all  might  in  the  inner  man.    Impart 


GROWTH    IN    GRACE.  211 

to  me  thy  divine  consolations.  Shed  abroad 
upon  my  heart  the  love  of  God.  Let  me 
never  grieve  thee,  but  always  lay  open  my 
soul  to"  thy  holy  influence,  and  yield  cheer- 
fully and  promptly  to  every  suggestion  from 
thee.  Perfect  thy  work  in  me,  and  fit  me 
for  the  enjoyment  of  that  eternal  inheritance 
of  the  saints  in  light,  for  which  I  liope. 
Grant  me  all  this,  0  Holy  Spirit,  for  Christ^s 
sake.     Amen. 


MEDITATION    XXIX. 


GROWTH    IN    GRACE. 

The  law  of  increase  and  progress  prevails  in 
all  the  works  of  the  Almighty.  He  could,  if 
it  had  been  his  pleasure,  have  spoken  this 
world  into  existence,  disposed,  arranged,  and 
adorned,  just  as  it  was,  when  the  light  of  the 
seventh  day  revealed  it  to  the  eyes  of  our 
first  parents,  in  all  its  beauty  and  glory.  But 
it  pleased  God  to  put  forth  his  creating  power 
in  a  different  way.  First  he  brought  the 
chaotic  mass  into  existence;  and  then  dis- 
posed of  the  elements  into  their  various  forms, 
arranged  the  land  and  water,  formed  the 
lights  of  heaven,  and  perfected  his  plan,  by 
the  labours  of  six  days. 

The  same  law  rules  in  Providence.     The 


212  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS. 

acorn  is  planted;  from  which  springs  the  sap- 
ling, which,  in  the  course  of  years,  grows  into 
the  majestic  oak.  Man  is  at  first  an  infant, 
then  passes  through  childhood  and  youth,  and 
at  length  reaches  the  full  stature  of  manhood. 
His  mind  is  gradually  developed  from  its  first 
conception,  till  it  is  so  expanded  as  to  contain 
stores  of  learning  and  science. 

In  redemption,  the  same  law  is  found  in 
operation.  Ages  rolled  away  before  the  Son 
of  God  came  into  the  world  to  achieve  his 
great  work  of  making  an  atonement  for  sin, 
and  furnishing  us  with  a  righteousness  for 
our  justification.  Fifteen  hundred  years  were 
occupied  in  completing  the  canon  of  sacred 
Scripture. 

By  the  same  law  is  the  application  of  salva- 
tion to  believing  sinners  gbverned.  God  might, 
if  it  had  pleased  him,  have  finished  the  work 
in  a  moment,  and  presented  every  behever  at 
once  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus,  in  all  the  beau- 
ties of  holiness,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  com- 
plete happiness.  But  infinite  wisdom  has 
adopted  a  different  plan.  Spiritual  life  is  at 
first  communicated  to  the  soul  in  an  incipient 
state;  and  then  cherished,  and  preserved,  and 
increased,  till  it  reaches  perfection  in  glory. 

By  the  grace  of  God,  I  have  been  brought 
into  a  state  of  reconciUation  and  friendship 
with  him.  My  sins  have  all  been  pardoned, 
and  my  person  justified,  through  the  imputed 
righteousness  of  my  blessed  Redeemer.  My 
nature  has  been  sanctified  by  his  Holy  Spirit, 


GROWTH    IN    GRACE.  213 

SO  that  a  transforming  moral  change  has 
passed  over  all  the  faculties  of  my  soul. 

For  what  grace  has  wrought  for  me,  I 
have  abundant  reason  for  thanksgiving  and 
praise  to  God.  But  great  as  is  the  change 
effected  in  my  nature,  and  protected  as  I  am 
against  condemnation,  through  my  union  to 
Christ,  and  participation  in  his  merits  by  faith, 
I  am  by  no  means  to  be  satisfied  with  my 
present  attainments  in  grace.  There  is  room 
for  great  improvement.  None  of  my  facul- 
ties have  been  perfected.  My  mind  is  not 
freed  from  darkness,  nor  is  my  heart  purified 
from  all  sin.  My  love,  and  faith,  and  joy, 
and  hope,  and  hoHness,  are  all  imperfect. 
The  old  man  still  remains  to  struggle  with 
the  new  man;  sin  in  my  members  still  v/ars 
with  the  law  of  my  mind.  In  such  a  state 
of  imperfection,  when  so  much  remains  to  be 
effected,  before  I  can  reach  the  perfection  to 
which  I  am  destined;  it  would  betray  much 
ignorance  of  duty,  and  much  ingratitude  for 
what  God  has  wrought  for  me,  were  I  to 
rest  contented  with  present  attainments,  and 
not  labour  to  reach  a  more  advanced  stage  in 
the  work  of  divine  grace.  While  so  much 
sin  remains  to  be  mortified  w^ithin  me,  and 
all  my  graces  are  so  imperfect,  how  can  I 
rest  satisfied?  Surely  I  ought  to  labour  after 
increased  hoUness,  and  growing  conformity 
to  the  image  of  Christ. 

So  acted  Paul.  He  had  made  great  attain- 
ments in  the  divine  life;  but  he  did  not  ima- 
gine he  had  attained  to  perfection.   One  thing 


214  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

he  did,  "forgetting  the  things  that  were  be- 
hind, and  reaching  forth  unto  those  tilings 
which  were  before,  he  pressed  toward  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus;"  Phil.  iii.  13,  14:  and  op- 
pressed with  the  burden  of  sin,  he  exclaimed, 
"0  wretched  man  that  I  am!  wlio  shall  de- 
liver me  from  the  body  of  this  death?''  Rom. 
vii.  24. 

Here  is  an  example  worthy  of  imitation. 
Let  me  look  at  my  remaining  depravity; 
and,  groaning  within  myself,  let  me  earnestly 
desire  the  Deliverer's  hand.  Contemplating 
the  great  sacrifice  for  sin,  and  considering 
what  my  Redeemer  suflered  for  my  sins,  let 
me  abhor  them,  and  strive  to  crucify  them  on 
his  cross.  I  have  indeed  no  reason  to  believe 
that  I  shall  ever,  in  this  sinful  world,  attain 
to  perfect  holiness;  yet  doubtless  I  ought  to 
be  always  stimulated  in  my  exertions  by  so 
lofty  an  aim.  So  glorious  is  my  destiny:  and 
were  I  to  aim  at  anything  lower,  I  should  be 
unworthy  the  prize  held  forth  to  view,  to 
inflame  my  ambition,  and  to  animate  my 
exertions.  Laying  aside,  then,  every  weight, 
and  removing  every  obstruction  out  of  the 
way,  let  me  run  the  race  that  is  set  before 
me. 

The  strongest  motives  urge  me  to  endeav- 
our to  grow  in  grace. 

Duty  calls  for  it.  "Grow  in  grace,"  is  an 
apostolic  injunction;  2  Pet.  hi.  18;  "Be  ye 
therefore  perfect,  even  as  your  Father  which 
is  in  heaven  is  perfect."  MaK  v.  48.     "But 


GROWTH    IN    GRACE.  215 

as  he  which  hath  called  you  is  holy,  so  be 
ye  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation." 
1  Pet.  i.  15.     So  plainly  is  the  duty  enjoined. 

The  design  of  Chris  fs  death  demands  it. 
"Looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the 
glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God  and  our 
Saviour,  Jesus  Christ;  who  gave  himself  for 
us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity, 
and  purify  us  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people, 
zealous  of  good  works."  Tit.  ii.  13,  14. 
Was  this  the  design  of  my  Redeemer?  Did 
he  die,  that  1  might  be  holy,  and  finally 
delivered  from  all  sin?  And  shall  I  dare  to 
oppose  his  blessed  design,  by  indulging  in 
any  sin,  or  by  being  remiss  in  my  exertions 
to  overcome  it  in  every  form?  Forbid  it, 
gracious  God.  Inspire  my  soul  with  increas- 
ing hatred  of  all  sin,  and  quicken  my  efforts 
to  crucify  my  lusts,  and  to  become  daily 
more  and  more  conformable  to  thy  hkeness. 
May  I  long  for  that  perfection  of  nature,  to 
which  I  am  destined;  and  to  put  me  in  pos- 
session of  which  my  Saviour  died. 

Ample  encouragement  is  given  to  ani- 
mate my  exertions,  in  making  greater  attain- 
ments in  the  divine  Hfe.  "And  the  very 
God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly;  and  I 
pray  God  your  whole  spirit,  and  soul,  and 
body,  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Faithful  is  he  that 
calleth  you,  who  also  will  do  it."  1  Thess  v. 
23,  24.  God  is  faithful  to  his  engagements 
with  his  Son;  and  therefore  he  will  perfect 
the  work  of  sanctification  in  all  who  have 


216  SACRAMENTAL   MEDITATIONS. 

been  redeemed  by  his  blood,  and  are  united 
to  him  by  faith.  Embrace,  then,  my  soul, 
this  gracious  encouragement,  that  thy  exer- 
tions will  not  be  in  vain,  but  crowned  with 
complete  success.  Hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness,  and  thou  shalt  be  filled. 

Consider  too  the  influence  which  growth 
in  grace  tvill  have  upon  thy  future  bless- 
edness. Hear  the  exhortation  of  the  apos- 
tle Peter:  "Giving  all  diligence,  add  to 
your  faith  virtue  ;  and  to  virtue  knowledge ; 
and  to  knowledge  temperance;  and  to  tem- 
perance patience;  and  to  patience  godliness: 
and  to  godliness  brotherly  kindness;  and  to 
brotherly  kindness  charity.  For  if  these 
things  be  in  you,  and  abound,  they  make  you 
that  ye  shall  be  neither  barren  nor  unfruitful 
in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
But  he  that  lacketh  these  things  is  blind,  and 
cannot  see  afar  off,  and  hath  forgotten  that 
he  was  purged  from  his  old  sins.  Wherefore 
the  rather,  brethen,  give  diligence  to  make 
your  calling  and  election  sure:  for  if  ye  do 
these  things  ye  shall  never  fall:  for  so  an 
entrance  shall  be  ministered  unto  you  abun- 
dantly into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ."  2  Pet.  i. 
5-11. 

How  important,  0  my  soul,  is  growth  in 
grace  to  thy  present  peace,  and  enjoyment, 
and  usefulness!  How  plainly  and  forcibly 
is  it  enjoined  on  thee  as  a  duty!  How 
touchingly  is  it  enforced  by  a  consideration 
of  the  design  of  thy  Redeemer's  death,  w^ho 


GROWTH    IN    GRACE.  217 

has  purchased  thee  with  his  precious  blood! 
What  encouragement  is  presented  to  urge 
thee  on  in  the  glorious  career,  by  the  assu- 
rance of  necessary  aid  and  final  success ! 
And  how  will  every  step  in  this  heavenly 
course,  influence  and  augment  thy  future  hap- 
piness and  glory !  Pressed  by  such  motives, 
wilt  thou  not  put  forth  every  exertion  to 
grow  in  grace,  and  to  approximate  towards 
a  state  of  perfect  holiness;  that  at  last  thou 
mayest  be  prepared  to  take  thy  station,  with 
all  the  redeemed,  around  the  throne  of  God, 
to  praise  and  enjoy  him  for  ever  and  ever  ? 

This,  then,  be  thy  high  aim.  Look  to  it. 
Keep  thine  eyes  constantly  on  it.  Pray  for 
the  aid  of  the  Ploly  Spirit,  to  help  thee  on- 
ward in  thy  heavenly  cqurse ;  and  daily  be- 
seech God,  that  thou  mayest  grow  in  grace, 
and  finally  reach  "  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and 
of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a 
perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature 
of  the  fulness  of  Christ;"  Ephes.  iv.  13: 
and  that  when  he  shall  appear,  thou  mayest 
appear  with  him  in  glory,  and  be  like  him, 
and  "  see  him  as  he  is."  Col.  ni.  4.  1  John 
iii.  2. 

PRAYER. 

0!  most  holy  God,  the  heavens  are  not 
clean  in  thy  sight,  and  thou  chargedst  thine 
angels  with  folly.  How,  then,  must  I  ap- 
pear in  the  sight  of  infinite  purity!  By 
thy  free  and  rich  grace,  I  have  been,  I  trust, 
renewed,  and  sanctified,  and  changed  into 


218  SACRAMENTAL    MEDITATIONS.  j 

thy  image.     But  how  unlike  to  thee  am  I         , 
still!     My  mind  is  dark;  my  will  rebellions; 
my  affections  cleave  too  much  to  this  earth ; 
my  love   to   thee  is  cold;   my  heart   is  not 
occupied,   as  it    should   be,   with   heavenly         ! 
things.     How  much  yet  remains  to  be  done, 
before  I  can  reach  that  perfection  in  heart 
and  in   life   to  which  I  am  destined.     Oh! 
never  suffer  me  to  be  satisfied  with  any  at-         ^ 
tainments  that  I  have  made,  or  shall  make, 
in  the  present  imperfect  state  of  human  rm- 
ture.     I  pray,  that  I  may  ever  press  on  in         ' 
my  career  of  holiness,  and  constantly  endea-         | 
vour  to  grow  in  grace.    Duty  calls  for  it;  the         j 
design  of  Christ's  death  demands  it ;  ample         , 
encouragement  is  given  to  expect  help  from         ' 
on  high;  the  more  I  grow  in  grace,  the  more 
peace  of  mind  shall  I  enjoy,  and  the  more         i 
useful  in  Ufe  shall  I  be;  and  a  brighter  crown         j 
will  hereafter  encircle  my  brow,  and  I  shall 
occupy  a  higher  seat  in  heaven  at  last. 

0  my  God,  grant  that  I  may  ever  feel  the         ' 
quickening  influence  of  these  great  motives;        j 
so  that,  my  exertions  being  stimulated,  I  may         | 
make  greater  progress  in  the  divine  life.    Let         j 
me  never,  I  beseech  thee,  0  my  God,  lose 
sight  of  the  great  duty  of  growing  in  grace.         ! 
May  I  constantly  aim  at  it;   and  strive  to 
become  more   and  more  conformed  to  thy 
most  holy  image.     Crown   my  efforts  with 
success ;  and,  at  last,  may  an  abundant  en-         j 
trance  into  thy  everlasting  kingdom  be  minis-         i 
tered  unto  me,  through  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 

"Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceed- 


PRAYER.  219 

ing  abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask,  or 
think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh 
in  us;  unto  him  be  glory  in  the  church,  by 
Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages,  world  with- 
out end.     Amen."     Ephes.  iii.  20,  21. 


THE  END. 


